Rutherfordton Police Deleted Post Sparks Public Backlash

Rutherfordton police and town leaders are catching heat after a controversial Facebook post about a man living outdoors in the downtown area was quietly deleted following intense public backlash.

On Dec. 16, the Rutherfordton Police Department dropped what they called a “public service announcement” about a man identified as Theodore Johnson, claiming he was not homeless, had access to housing and financial resources, and was simply “choosing” to live outdoors. The post also encouraged residents to stop giving him money and asked people to limit calls to police about him.

That message didn’t sit well with many in the community.

Within hours, residents flooded the comments accusing the department of shaming, targeting, and publicly singling out a vulnerable individual. As the criticism grew louder, the post disappeared — and soon after, an apology followed.

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Police Chief Clint Ingle said officers, along with social services and mental-health professionals, have repeatedly tried to help Johnson over time. He emphasized that law enforcement can’t force someone into housing or treatment unless very specific legal standards are met.

“While there was never any intention for the recent post to cause harm, we understand how it may have been perceived without full context,” Ingle said. “Many efforts have been made through multiple avenues to support this individual, and we recognize that may not have been fully understood.”

Town officials later jumped into the comments themselves, distancing the town from the post and issuing their own apology. They said the message didn’t reflect the town’s values and confirmed internal communication practices are now being reviewed.