A man from Nevada was arrested near former President Donald Trump’s rally
in Southern California on Saturday after authorities discovered a loaded shotgun,
handgun, ammunition, and multiple fake passports in his vehicle.
The 49-year-old suspect from Las Vegas was stopped at a security checkpoint in Coachella,
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announced.
The man, driving an unregistered SUV with a makeshift license plate,
claimed to be a journalist, though his credentials were unclear.
Deputies found his vehicle in disarray during the search,
which led to the discovery of the firearms, ammunition, and various IDs under different names.
The arrest occurred ahead of Trump’s arrival at the rally,
and officials confirmed that the incident posed no threat to the former president or event attendees.
The suspect was charged with possessing a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine.
He was released on $5,000 bail the same day and is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025.
Sheriff Bianco noted that the suspect passed through an outer security boundary
before being stopped at an inner perimeter patrolled by local law enforcement.
A more secure checkpoint, closer to the rally, was operated by the Secret Service.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that the security breach did not impact Trump’s safety,
and their investigation remains ongoing.
This heightened security comes amid recent assassination attempts targeting the former president.
In a Florida case last month, a man was indicted for planning to kill Trump,
following another attempt where Trump was shot in the ear during a rally in Pennsylvania.
The rally, held in the desert of Southern California, saw increased security measures,
including vehicle searches by K-9 officers and VIP ticket holders
being routed through multiple checkpoints.
General attendees were transported by buses from a separate
location approximately three miles away.
Trump’s campaign has not yet responded to the arrest incident.
This arrest underscores the ongoing security concerns
at Trump’s rallies, especially in light of recent threats.
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