Man Arrested with Firearms Near Trump Rally in California
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Nevada man was arrested at a security checkpoint outside Donald Trump’s rally Saturday night in Southern California, carrying a shotgun, a loaded handgun, ammunition, and several fake passports in his vehicle. He was released the same day on $5,000 bail.
The suspect, a 49-year-old resident of Las Vegas, was driving an unregistered black SUV with a “homemade” license plate. He was stopped by deputies assigned to the rally in Coachella, located east of Los Angeles, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco reported at a news conference.
The driver claimed to be a journalist, but it remains unclear if he possessed the necessary credentials. Deputies noticed the interior of the vehicle was “in disarray,” prompting further inspection that uncovered the weapons and ammunition, along with multiple passports and driver’s licenses bearing different names, Bianco stated.
The man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine, as noted in a departmental statement.
“This incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event,” the sheriff added, specifying that Trump had not yet arrived at the rally when the arrest occurred.
The suspect is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025, according to online records. Bianco refrained from speculating about the suspect’s motives or mental state, stating, “We know we prevented something bad from happening, and it was irrelevant what that bad was going to be.”
The man managed to get past an outer security boundary before being stopped at an inner perimeter patrolled by the sheriff’s department. Another security checkpoint closer to the rally site was operated by the Secret Service.
“The U.S. Secret Service assesses that the incident did not impact protective operations and former President Trump was not in any danger,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed in a statement. “While no federal arrest has been made at this time, the investigation is ongoing.”
Media members and VIP ticket holders were required to pass through several checkpoints manned by state and local law enforcement before reaching the designated area, where vehicles were inspected with the assistance of K-9 officers. General ticket holders had to board buses from a site located roughly 3 miles away.
Trump’s campaign did not provide immediate comments regarding the arrest. Security measures have increased at Trump rallies following two recent assassination attempts. Last month, a man was indicted for attempted assassination after allegedly stalking the former president for 12 hours and expressing his desire to kill him. This incident followed an earlier attack where Trump was shot and wounded in the ear during a rally in Pennsylvania.
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