A man was arrested at a checkpoint outside of former President Donald Trump’s rally in Coachella, California, on Saturday night after being found in illegal possession of two loaded firearms, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The suspect, Vem Miller, 49, of Las Vegas, was taken into custody before the rally began, Sheriff Chad Bianco confirmed on Sunday.
Arrest Details and Weapons Discovery
Miller was driving a black SUV with a fake license plate and was found to have both a shotgun and a handgun, along with a high-capacity magazine for the handgun in his vehicle. Sheriff Bianco added that deputies also discovered fake driver’s licenses and passports with different names, raising further concerns.
The arrest took place at a secondary checkpoint near the rally, after Miller initially told authorities he was a journalist. Further checks revealed irregularities that led officers to investigate more thoroughly, uncovering the illegal weapons and fraudulent identification. Miller was released on bond less than 24 hours later.
Potential Threats and Federal Involvement
While it remains unclear if Miller intended to harm Trump or anyone attending the rally, Bianco suggested that the arrest may have prevented a potential assassination attempt. “I truly do believe that we prevented another assassination attempt and it was solely by our effort of keeping those types of people out,” Bianco said during a Sunday press conference. However, he clarified that any further investigation into such motives would be handled at the federal level.
The U.S. Secret Service and the FBI are now involved, working alongside the Sheriff’s Department to investigate the incident. A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicated that while no federal charges have been filed, the case is still under review. The Secret Service also emphasized that Trump was not in any immediate danger as a result of the incident.
Sheriff Bianco’s Comments and Political Neutrality
During the press conference, Bianco defended his department’s handling of the situation, noting that it was their careful screening process that led to the discovery of the weapons. He also dismissed the notion that the incident had political motivations, stating, “I couldn’t care less what political party he belongs to … He was a lunatic.”
Bianco, who attended the rally with his family and received a shout-out from Trump during the event, reiterated that the investigation into whether this was an assassination attempt would be managed by federal authorities.
Rally Attendees and Public Safety
Despite the seriousness of the arrest, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office assured the public that there was no impact on the safety of the rally attendees or Trump himself. The department worked in conjunction with federal agencies to ensure that proper protocols were followed and that the threat was neutralized before the event.
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