Gun-wielding man arrested near Trump rally in California

The 49-year-old suspect, Vem Miller, was driving a black SUV when he was stopped at a security checkpoint by officers, who located the two firearms and a “high-capacity magazine,” the police reported. BBC.

The US Secret Service said Trump was “in no danger”, adding that the incident had not impacted protective operations.

Miller was then taken into custody “without incident,” the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said, and booked into custody on charges of possession of a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine.

A local sheriff called the suspect “crazy” and his office added that the encounter did not affect the safety of Trump or rally attendees.

While Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said it was impossible to speculate on what the suspect was thinking, he said he “truly believes” his officers prevented a third assassination attempt.

He added that it might be impossible to prove that this was the man’s intention, the BBC reported.

A federal law enforcement official told CBS News there was no indication of an assassination attempt related to this incident.

Federal authorities say they are still investigating the incident and would be responsible for pursuing any additional charges.

Bianco is an elected official and a Republican who has previously expressed support for Trump. He also serves as a surrogate for Trump’s re-election campaign.

The incident, which occurred at 4:59 p.m. PDT, an hour before Trump’s scheduled appearance, once again highlights the intense security operation around him and the dangers the former president faces further three weeks before the elections.

This follows two high-profile alleged assassination attempts against Trump earlier this year.

Miller was charged with two weapons offenses and released on $5,000 (£3,826) bail. No federal charges have been filed, the BBC reported.

At a police news conference earlier Sunday, Bianco warned he might not be able to “give all the information…because of what we’re doing.”

The sheriff added that when the suspect approached an exterior perimeter near the gathering location, he “gave every indication that he was authorized to be there.”

But when the suspect arrived inside the perimeter, “numerous irregularities appeared,” added Sheriff Bianco, explaining that the vehicle had a false license plate and that it was “in disarray” at the interior.

Several passports with multiple names and multiple driver’s licenses were found in the car, the sheriff said, adding that the license plate was “homemade” and unregistered.

He said the suspect told authorities he was a member of the far-right group called Sovereign Citizens.

He said the license plate was also “indicative of a group of individuals who claim to be sovereign citizens,” but he did not conclude that Miller was a member.

“I wouldn’t say it’s an activist group. It’s just a group that doesn’t believe in government and government control,” he said.

“They don’t believe the government and the laws apply to them.”

The US Attorney’s Office, the Secret Service and the FBI are aware of the arrest, according to a statement from federal authorities.

“The U.S. Secret Service believes that Saturday’s incident did not impact protective operations and that former President Trump was not in any danger,” the statement said.

“While no federal arrests have been made at this time, the investigation continues. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI express their gratitude to the deputies and local partners who helped ensure the security of last night’s events.”

Security around Trump has been significantly increased following previous alleged assassination attempts, the BBC reported.

On the Saturday before Miller’s arrest, Trump held his second rally this year in Butler, Pennsylvania, the same place where his ear was bloodied after a sniper fired several shots in his direction, killing a person in the crowd.

Another man is currently in jail after being arrested outside the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach in September. The man was seen hiding in bushes near the golf course with the muzzle of a gun protruding from the bushes.