Sheriff Chad Bianco holds press conference regarding arrest at Trump rally
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco held a press conference at 3 p.m. regarding the arrest at the Trump rally Saturday night.
The press conference was live-streamed on YouTube, Facebook, and Riverside County Sheriff's website according to the department.
It comes after a Las Vegas man was arrested Saturday near the site of former President Donald Trump’s rally in the Coachella Valley, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
A shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine were seized from the vehicle.
Here is what law enforcement said happened.
The suspect, driving a black SUV, made it past the outer perimeter where people with credentials were being allowed in.
At the inner perimeter, deputies noticed several irregularities.
Sheriff Bianco said the inside of the mans vehicle was in disarray, the license plate was fake and the vehicle was unregistered.
Upon further investigation, he said deputies discovered multiple passports and drivers licenses with different names, as well as a loaded handgun and a shotgun inside the SUV.
“If you're asking me right now, I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination attempt," Bianco said.
Law enforcement believes the man could be connected to a group identifying as sovereign citizens.
Officers took the man into custody without incident and he was booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center for possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine.
The suspect was later released.
Sheriff Bianco said Riverside County Sheriff's Department is now working closely with the Secret Service and FBI to monitor this individual.
The US Secret Service released a joint statement with the FBI and the Department of Justice regarding the incident:
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Secret Service, and FBI are aware of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office’s arrest on Saturday. The U.S. Secret Service assesses that the incident did not impact protective operations and former President Trump was not in any danger. While no federal arrest has been made at this time, the investigation is ongoing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Secret Service, and FBI extend their gratitude to the deputies and local partners who helped ensure the safety of last night’s events.
Stay with News Channel 3 for updates on this developing story.
