Social Media Influencer Mark Cannon Arrested on False Alarm and Facility Disruption Charges

A Jefferson County man has been arrested for allegedly making false claims about a firearm inside the county jail, triggering an unnecessary emergency response from law enforcement.

Mark Cannon was taken into custody by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigators following an incident at the W.C. “Dub” Brassell Adult Detention Center earlier this month. Officials say Cannon used Facebook Live on April 3 to broadcast claims that a gun had been smuggled into a misdemeanor housing unit at the facility.

During the livestream, Cannon repeatedly asserted that a firearm was present inside the pod and accused detention staff of smuggling contraband. Authorities report that Cannon appeared to display what resembled a firearm during the video broadcast.

The claims prompted an immediate emergency response from deputies and detention personnel, who implemented security protocols and conducted a comprehensive search of the housing unit. No weapon or contraband was discovered during the search operation.

Sheriff’s office representatives indicated this wasn’t an isolated incident. They cited a pattern of behavior involving the dissemination of false information, referencing previous incidents in 2024 and 2025 when Cannon allegedly made inaccurate claims about violence inside the jail that similarly triggered emergency responses.

On April 10, Circuit Judge Phillip Green of Lincoln County found probable cause and issued a warrant for Cannon’s arrest. He now faces charges of communicating a false alarm and impairing the operation of a vital public facility. The court set bond at $1,000 secured.

Following the issuance of the warrant, Cannon was apprehended without incident and transported to the detention center for booking.

Major Dennis Kendall emphasized the serious nature of such false reports, particularly those involving potential weapons in secure facilities. “When an individual knowingly spreads misinformation that suggests the presence of a weapon inside a detention facility, it triggers a full-scale emergency response,” Kendall said. “That response requires the diversion of deputies, detention personnel and critical resources intended to protect the public.”

He added that these actions not only create unnecessary risks for staff, detainees, and the broader community but also cause significant distress for families of those currently housed at the facility.

Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr. expressed similar concerns, characterizing Cannon’s alleged actions as both reckless and dangerous. “The deliberate spread of false information, especially involving a claim as serious as a firearm inside a secure detention facility, undermines public trust and diverts resources away from real emergencies,” Woods stated. “Individuals who engage in this kind of conduct will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

This incident highlights the growing challenge corrections facilities face with social media-fueled misinformation. False claims about conditions or safety issues inside detention centers can spread rapidly online, potentially inciting panic among inmates’ families and requiring costly security responses that divert resources from genuine emergencies.

In many jurisdictions, making false reports to law enforcement constitutes a criminal offense precisely because of the potential to waste valuable public safety resources and create unnecessary risk. When such claims involve correctional facilities, the potential for disruption is particularly acute given the already complex security environments these institutions manage.

Officials said Cannon’s initial court appearance will depend on his ability to post bond. Meanwhile, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining safety at the detention center and urged the public to rely only on verified information, avoiding the sharing of unconfirmed claims that could compromise public safety.