A man arrested at a security checkpoint near former President Donald Trump’s rally in California on Saturday is facing serious gun charges after being found with loaded firearms, multiple passports, and a fake license plate.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco suggested that the arrest may have thwarted an assassination attempt, though he acknowledged this as speculation.
The suspect, 49-year-old Vem Miller from Las Vegas, was stopped by sheriff’s deputies in a black SUV around 5 p.m., just before Trump took the stage.
Sheriff Bianco reported that Miller was taken into custody without incident.
He was later released on $5,000 bail after being charged with possession of a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine, both misdemeanors.
“What we do know is he showed up with multiple passports under different names, an unregistered vehicle with a fake license plate, and loaded firearms,” Bianco said during a news conference. “I truly do believe that we prevented another assassination attempt.”
Jail records confirm Miller’s release, but he could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
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The U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles stated that Trump was not in danger during the incident, citing information from the U.S. Secret Service.
The statement noted that while no federal arrest had been made, an investigation is underway.
The incident follows a series of alarming security threats against Trump. In July, he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when a gunman’s bullet grazed his ear during a rally in Pennsylvania.
In September, another man was charged with attempting to assassinate Trump after being found with a rifle near his Palm Beach golf course.
Despite the tension surrounding these events, the sheriff’s office assured that the rally attendees, including Trump, were safe during the incident.
Trump’s rally took place in the Coachella Valley, a region well-known for its vibrant music and arts festival.