By Lucy Adautin
A man was arrested by sheriff’s deputies after being found in illegal possession of a shotgun and a loaded handgun near a Donald Trump rally in Coachella, California, according to an announcement from the Riverside County sheriff’s office on Sunday.
The Secret Service confirmed awareness of the arrest and assured that neither Trump nor rally participants had been in danger during the Saturday incident.
“Although no federal charges have been filed at this time, the investigation is ongoing,” the Secret Service said in a joint statement with the FBI and the US Attorney’s office, which are also involved in the case.
Authorities identified the suspect as 49-year-old Vem Miller of Las Vegas, who was later released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on January 2.
Deputies, stationed at a checkpoint near the rally, apprehended Miller as he approached in a black SUV.
They later booked him at a local detention center on charges of possessing a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine.
The incident comes on the heels of two assassination attempts — one in Pennsylvania in which a bullet grazed Trump’s ear, and a second, aborted attempt at his Florida golf course.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a supporter of Donald Trump who spoke at the Republican’s rally in Coachella on Saturday, remarked that “there’s no way to truly know what was going through his mind.”
“If you ask me now, I believe my deputies may have stopped a third assassination attempt,” Bianco, a former member of the far-right Oath Keepers group, said during a press conference.
Bianco mentioned the suspect had “multiple” passports and IDs under various names in his unregistered vehicle. He noted that any additional charges would be handled by federal authorities.
The Trump campaign has yet to comment on the situation.
Trump’s choice to hold a rally in California, a Democratic stronghold, surprised political observers, but the event attracted a large crowd despite temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius).
Coachella is primarily known for its famous annual music festival.
