’Really amazing’ or spreading lies for profit? NC sheriff and TikToker butt heads

In a rare step, a western North Carolina sheriff this month publicly denounced a man for making false accusations on social media against FEMA, which has been the target of false claims since Helene struck.

It’s a twisty story that starts with a group of West Virginia coal miners rushing to Henderson County to help after Helene struck in September. They cut a temporary road from Bat Cave to Chimney Rock after the historic storm washed out an existing road.

While the miners had good intentions and were helpful, they made some errors, Sheriff Lowell Griffin said in a video posted on Facebook this month. The temporary road cut across private property, upsetting some landowners who reached out to the N.C. Attorney General’s Office and the state Department of Transportation, the sheriff said.

Because DOT did not have any easements on the private property, the state ordered a gate installed and closed the road except for emergency personnel, the sheriff said.

But David James Phillips, who has posted on TikTok and other social media blaming FEMA for closing the road, is distorting the facts, likely for profit, the sheriff said.

In November, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office charged Phillips with driving on a closed or unopened road, a class 1 misdemeanor. Court records say Phillips lives in Connecticut. The road was Lake Lure Highway, which is Highway 74, the same road the miners were rebuilding, the sheriff said in the video.

Neither Phillips nor Griffin could be reached for comment.

Phillips had posted online as David James under the handle @americaisrising, according to Sheriff Griffin’s video. Phillips’ account, which is no longer visible, had more than 69,000 followers and included a link to a GiveSendGo page in the bio, a screenshot posted in the sheriff’s video shows. The fundraising page solicits donations for David James.

That page presents a very different scenario than Sheriff Griffin described. While referring to James in the third person, the fundraiser alleges that James was indispensable to helping people in that area and that he was falsely accused of cutting down a gate that FEMA paid for.

Sheriff Griffin, in his 12-minute video, accused Phillips of profiting from misinformation and warned people not to fall for it.

“You’ll understand that there’s profit to be made,” the sheriff alleged in the Dec. 6 post. “Every time somebody visits this website, this TikTok channel, and he gets enough likes, he actually earns money for his videos. Case in point, there’s your ulterior motive.”

As of Monday, the GiveSendGo page had received $2,000 in donations. In a TikTok post on a different account — @americaisrisingagain — David James posted a video Monday saying he was en route to speak with the sheriff, claiming he was banned from recording the conversation on video. It’s not clear if that meeting happened.

More accusations against FEMA

The GiveSendGo page titled Support David James Legal Battle for Justice, says that FEMA paid $288,000 to put gates up to block the road built by West Virginia coal miners. And it suggests he is being treated unfairly for publicizing it.

“Many of you know David’s extensive work aiding survivors throughout the disaster zone by his coverage of the events on his viral TikTok account where he chronicles the relief efforts. The charges that David is facing today are directly related to this work and his coverage of these events,” he said.

But Sheriff Griffin emphatically described that differently in his video.

“FEMA has not told anybody that they can’t be down there. FEMA has not kept anybody out of that area. FEMA is not controlling the access to this road that the West Virginia coal miners created. (It) has absolutely nothing to do with FEMA. This all came through the state, and it’s because private property owners still have rights,” the sheriff said.

Deanne Criswell, FEMA administrator, has said that misinformation about her organization in the aftermath of Helene is “the worst she’s ever seen” and that that is dissuading people from seeking help.

In addition to the alleged misinformation about FEMA blocking the newly installed road, the fundraising page includes contradicting claims about Phillips’ arrest.

In a TikTok video, Phillips said that the Henderson County Sheriff’s office accused him of tearing down the gate with a chainsaw. However, the charges against him cite nothing about the gate. Rather, Phillips is charged with driving on Lake Lure Highway despite the road being closed.

In the Facebook video, Sheriff Griffin said that Phillips turned himself in. He was released on a written promise to appear in court on Jan. 2.

Some people making donations at the GiveSendGo site praise David James.

“Really amazing what you are doing for the people abandoned by their own government, and not surprised they resent it and want to punish you,” a supporter named Jason Becker said in a note attached to his $195 donation.

“They are wicked, worshiping their father the devil lucifer, and are terrified of the true Light, that of Jesus Christ, that shines from you. Praying for good legal representation and financial support for it, doing what I can here to help you. God bless,” he continued.

In his video, Sheriff Griffin said his office has received calls and emails nationwide from concerned people who’ve bought into what Griffin said is misinformation spread by Phillips. He warned the community not to believe everything they see online.

“Be careful what you take is (as) fact, just because somebody chooses to make a video and they may be a good videographer, doesn’t mean it’s factual,” he said.

This story was originally published December 17, 2024 at 5:00 AM.