October 14th 2024.
A man was taken into custody while attempting to enter a Donald Trump rally, raising concerns as this is the third reported assassination attempt on the former president in just a few months. The suspect, Vem Miller, 49, was apprehended by police in a black SUV around 5pm, only half a mile away from the event in Coachella, California.
Upon searching the vehicle, authorities discovered that Miller was in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine. What's more, when Miller was stopped at a checkpoint by deputies, he presented them with fake VIP and press passes, which immediately raised red flags.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who spoke to the media following the arrest, expressed his concern over the situation, stating that the passes presented by Miller were different enough to cause alarm among the deputies. He went on to say that he truly believed that his officers had prevented a third assassination attempt on the former president, describing Miller as a "lunatic".
"We probably stopped another assassination attempt," Sheriff Bianco added, although he also admitted that it may be difficult to prove Miller's intent. It was later revealed that Miller, a resident of Las Vegas, is a member of a far-right anti-government group and considers himself a "sovereign citizen" who is exempt from government control.
In a separate press conference, Sheriff Bianco revealed that Miller had initially approached the outer perimeter of the event and gave off the impression that he was allowed to be there. However, as he attempted to get closer, several irregularities came to light, leading to further investigation. Inside the vehicle, authorities found a fake license plate and the interior was in disarray, prompting even more concern.
When questioned by a reporter about the "dramatic" nature of his assassination remarks, Sheriff Bianco responded that there is a serious problem in the country and that his statements were based on common sense and reason.
Miller was charged with two misdemeanor weapons charges and was released on bail of $5,000. As of now, no federal charges have been filed, according to reports from the BBC. The Secret Service also released a brief statement on the incident, stating that they were aware of the arrest and that it did not impact their protective operations. They also expressed gratitude towards the deputies and local partners who assisted in safeguarding the event.
This incident comes after a close call in July, where a potential assassin came within inches of killing the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania, grazing his ear with an AR-15 style assault rifle. Two months later, another suspect was arrested by Secret Service agents for allegedly camping outside a Trump-owned golf course in Florida with a high-powered SKS assault rifle on September 15.
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