A man was arrested for illegally possessing a shotgun and a loaded handgun by sheriff’s deputies assigned to secure a Donald Trump rally in Coachella, California, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office announced.
On Sunday, deputies at a checkpoint near the rally apprehended 49-year-old Vem Miller of Las Vegas, who was driving a black SUV. Miller was booked at a local detention center on charges of possessing a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine.
According to the sheriff’s office, “This incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event.” No information about Miller’s intentions was immediately provided. He has since been released on bail and is scheduled for a court hearing on January 2.
There has been no comment from the Trump campaign or the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting top officials and candidates. The sheriff’s office said more details would be shared in a briefing later on Sunday.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco had addressed Trump supporters at the rally in Coachella the day before the incident.
Background of Security Concerns
The arrest comes amid heightened concerns, following two recent assassination attempts on Trump. In July, a gunman narrowly missed Trump, with a bullet grazing his ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In September, another man was charged with attempting to assassinate Trump after Secret Service agents found him hiding with a rifle near Trump’s Palm Beach golf course. The man has pleaded not guilty.
