North Carolina detention officer fired after 'I am Antifa' social media post

A North Carolina detention officer was fired after investigators found concerning social media posts, including an account posting "I am Antifa" on Bluesky, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. The agency announced Monday that Detention Officer Brian Edwards was terminated following an internal review triggered by the Friday post.

The sheriff's office said the investigation confirmed violations of both the Standards of Conduct and the Speech, Expression, and Social Networking sections of the policy manual. Edwards began working at the agency sometime in 2022.

Edwards told local media he disagreed with how the situation was handled, adding, "I respect the sheriff's office, but I disagree with how my situation was handled. I'm focused on moving forward and won't be commenting further at this time." The Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said the public must trust the agency as it carries out its mission to protect, serve and treat people with dignity and respect.

According to the sheriff's office, Edwards started with the department in 2022 after previously serving as a correctional officer in Caswell County. The office noted that correctional duties carry different legal considerations because inmates typically retain more rights than detainees who have not yet been convicted. The agency described Edwards' prior role as similar, but with more restrictions.

Fox News Digital reached out to Edwards and the Orange County Sheriff's Office for comment.