COACHELLA, Calif. — A Nevada man with a shotgun, a loaded handgun and ammunition in his vehicle was arrested at an outdoor security checkpoint Donald Trump’s rally Saturday night in the Southern California desert, authorities said Sunday.
The suspect, a 49-year-old Las Vegas resident, was driving a black SUV that was stopped by officers assigned to the rally in Coachella, east of Los Angeles, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.
The man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine, the department said.
“This incident had no impact on the safety of former President Trump or event attendees,” the statement said.
Media members and VIP ticket holders were led through a series of intersections manned by state and local law enforcement officers before arriving at a large grassy area where drivers were asked to open the hood and trunk, and each vehicle was searched by a police officer. K-9 officer. Other general ticket holders were directed to a location approximately three miles away from the meeting, where they were boarded buses and driven to the location.
Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrest.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco scheduled an afternoon news conference to discuss the arrest.