Man arrested outside of Trump’s Southern California rally illegally possessed multiple guns, authorities say
By Austin Turner,
2 days ago
A man was arrested outside of a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Southern California, and multiple guns were illegally in his possession, according to authorities .
The arrest took place at a checkpoint at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive in Coachella at 4:59 p.m. on Saturday, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said. The rally was scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
The driver of a black SUV, who was later identified as 49-year-old Vem Miller of Las Vegas, was found to be in illegal possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine.
Miller was then taken into custody and booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine.
According to the Riverside County Inmate Information System, Miller was released from the detention center Sunday on $5,000 bail.
The Sheriff’s Office said the incident had no impact on the safety of rally attendees or former President Trump.
No additional details were immediately made available.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Miller was viewed as a threat to Trump or any other rally attendees, or if the firearm possession was unrelated to the political event. Officials didn’t say where the guns were located in his SUV at the time of the arrest, or what led to his vehicle being searched.
The arrest comes as multiple high-profile attempts of violence against the former President have taken place during the heated election cycle.
FILE – Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. The FBI says former President Donald Trump has agreed to be interviewed as part of the investigation into the attempted assassination in Pennsylvania earlier this month. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
On July 13, Trump was grazed in the ear by a bullet coming from the gun of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Crooks was shot and killed by a member of the Secret Service.
Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, is currently being prosecuted on gun charges after he hid out near a Florida golf course in an alleged attempt to have a clean shot at the former President and current Republican presidential nominee on Sept. 15.
Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.
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49-year-old Vem Miller of Las Vegas, is an anti-government republican, just like Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who admits ties to anti-government group 'Oath Keepers,' who's founder is in prison for 18 years for the Insurrection for Trump on January 6th.
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