The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office announced on April 13 that Mark Cannon, described as a serial social-media provocateur and self-proclaimed community activist, was arrested following false public statements that led to an emergency response at the W.C. “Dub” Brassell Adult Detention Center in Jefferson County, Arkansas. Authorities said Cannon used Facebook Live on April 2 to claim a firearm had been brought into Misdemeanor Pod 1 of the facility and showed what appeared to be a gun on camera, also alleging contraband was being smuggled by staff.
Officials said these claims prompted deputies and detention personnel to initiate emergency protocols and conduct a full search of the housing unit, but no weapon or contraband was found. According to the sheriff’s office, this incident is part of an ongoing pattern involving Cannon making similar false reports in May 2024 and September 2025 that caused unnecessary alarm and disrupted operations.
On April 10, Judge Phillip Green issued a warrant for Cannon’s arrest on charges including Communicating a False Alarm and Impairing the Operation of a Vital Public Facility. Investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division took him into custody without incident; bond was set at $1,000 secured.
Major Dennis Kendall said: “Let me be clear, false reports of this nature are not harmless. When an individual knowingly spreads misinformation that suggests the presence of a weapon inside a detention facility, it triggers a full-scale emergency response. That response requires the immediate diversion of deputies, detention personnel, and critical resources that are intended to protect the public. These actions place our staff, our detainees, and our community at unnecessary risk. These actions also create unnecessary worry and stress on the family members of detainees who are in W.C. ‘Dub’ Brassell Adult Detention Center. We will not tolerate the intentional misuse of social media to create panic or interfere with public safety operations.” Kendall added: “Cannon’s ability to post the bail set with the bond will dictate his first appearance in Jefferson County District Court.” Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr., who has served since 2019 according to the official website, said: “The deliberate spread of false information…is both reckless and dangerous…Let this serve as a clear message: individuals who engage in this kind of conduct will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office operates nine divisions across two detention centers while serving one of Arkansas’s largest counties by landmass according to its official website. The agency focuses on professional safety services throughout Jefferson County according to its official website.
The sheriff’s office stated it remains committed to maintaining safety within its facilities while urging residents not to share unverified information online—emphasizing responsible use as part of broader efforts supporting community welfare through progressive public safety measures according to its official website.