Man with loaded gun arrested at checkpoint near Trump rally in California

A Nevada man with a shotgun, loaded handgun and ammunition in his vehicle was arrested at a security checkpoint outside Donald Trump’s rally Saturday night in the Southern California desert , the authorities announced on Sunday. He was released Saturday on $5,000 bail.

The suspect, a 49-year-old Las Vegas resident, was driving a black SUV that was stopped by officers assigned to the gathering in Coachella, east of Los Angeles, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. press release.

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The man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine, the department said.

“This incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or event attendees,” the statement said.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025, according to online records.

Members of the media, along with VIP ticket holders, passed through a number of intersections manned by state and local law enforcement officers before arriving at a large grassy area where drivers were asked to open the hoods and trunks, and each vehicle was searched by a K-9 Officer.

Other general ticket holders were directed to a site approximately 5km from the rally, where they were boarded by buses and driven to the site.

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Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrest.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco scheduled an afternoon news conference to discuss the arrest.