Full Notification

The Forest City Police Department and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office have secured warrants for Charles Aaron Parris of Gainesville, Florida (formerly of Rutherford County) in connection with the recent bomb threats and other related incidents. Parris was developed as a suspect during the investigation and was confirmed to be responsible for these threats. He was arrested earlier today by authorities in Florida.

Incidents like this require significant law enforcement resources, pulling emergency personnel from critical duties and straining public safety resources. False threats not only cause fear and disruption but also place unnecessary risks on officers, first responders, and the public. We take these matters seriously and will continue to hold individuals accountable for making false reports and threats.

We appreciate the cooperation and patience of our community as we worked through this investigation. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to the many agencies that assisted, including the Gastonia Police Department Bomb Squad, Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Spindale Police Department, Rutherfordton Police Department, Gaston County Sheriff's Office, Greenville County Sheriff's Office, Henderson County Sheriff's Office, Rutherford County EMS, Forest City Fire Department, Rutherford County Traffic Control, ATF, NCSBI, Rutherford County Emergency Management, U.S. Marshals Service, Gainesville Florida law enforcement, and the Tri-City Violent Crimes Task Force.