Man arrested near Trump rally with 2 illegal guns

A man in illegal possession of a shotgun and a loaded handgun was arrested at an intersection near former US President Donald Trump’s rally in Coachella, California.

The incident, which police say occurred at 4:59 p.m. local time on Saturday (00:59 GMT Sunday), once again highlights the intense security operation around Trump and the dangers facing the former president. faced, with a little more than three weeks to go. until the presidential election.

This recent arrest follows two high-profile assassination attempts on Trump earlier this year.

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.

Miller was 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.

However, he was later released.

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

Prior to his release on $5,000 (£3,826) bail, Miller was charged with two weapons offenses.

No federal charges have been filed as of the filing of this report.

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 was the man’s intention.

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

Federal authorities said they were investigating the incident and would be responsible for filing additional charges.

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

At a police news conference on Sunday, Mr. Bianco warned that he might not be able to “give all the information because of what we are doing.”

The sheriff added that as 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, “many irregularities appeared,” Bianco added, explaining that the vehicle had a fake license plate and was “in disarray” inside.

Several passports with different names and numerous driver’s licenses were found in the car, the sheriff said, adding that the license plate was “homemade” and not registered.

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 US Secret Service believes that the incident had no impact on 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 safety of last night’s events.”

Security around Trump has been significantly increased following previous alleged assassination attempts.

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.