A man in illegal possession of a shotgun and a loaded handgun was arrested at an intersection near Donald Trump’s rally in Coachella, California, Police said.
The 49-year-old suspect, Vem Miller, was driving a black SUV when he was stopped at a security checkpoint by deputies, who located the two firearms and a “high-capacity magazine”.
Miller was then taken into custody “without incident”, the Riverside County Sheriff’s office said, and booked on possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine.
The US Secret Service said Trump “was not in any danger”, adding that the incident did not impact protective operations.
A local sheriff called the suspect a “lunatic” and his office added the encounter did not affect the safety of Trump or the rally’s attendees.
While Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said it was impossible to speculate about what was in the mind of the suspect, he said he “truly believed” that his officers had prevented a third assassination attempt.
He added that it might be impossible to prove that this was the man’s intent.
Federal authorities say they are still investigating the incident, and it would be up to them to pursue any additional charges.
The incident on Sunday highlights, once again, the intense security operation around Trump, and the dangers facing the former president, with just over three weeks to go until the election.
It follows two high-profile alleged assassination attempts on Trump earlier this year.
Miller was charged with two misdemeanour weapons charges and was released on a $5,000 (£3,826) bail. No federal charges have been filed.
Security surrounding Trump has been heavily increased in the wake of previous alleged assassination attempts.
The Saturday before Miller’s arrest, Trump held his second rally in Butler, Pennsylvania this year, the same place were his ear was bloodied after a sniper fired multiple shots in his direction, killing one person in the crowd.
Another man is currently in jail after he was arrested outside the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach in September. The man was spotted hiding in bushes near the golf course with the muzzle of a rifle sticking out through the shrubbery.
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