Payam Javan: On October 12, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department apprehended an armed man outside the perimeter of a former President Donald Trump rally in Coachella, Southern California, approximately 130 miles east of Los Angeles. The arrest occurred before Trump arrived at the event, as deputies stopped the driver of a black SUV at a checkpoint on Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive around 5 p.m. The suspect, Vem Miller, was found with two firearms—a handgun and a shotgun—alongside multiple boxes of ammunition. Additionally, authorities discovered that the vehicle was unregistered, featured a fake license plate, and contained multiple passports and driver’s licenses under different names. Miller was charged with driving an unregistered vehicle, possession of a loaded firearm, and possession of a high-capacity magazine, and was later released on a $5,000 bond.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco stated that his deputies likely prevented an assassination attempt on Trump, emphasizing the discovery of illegal weapons as the primary reason for the arrest. In a joint statement, the Department of Justice, Secret Service, and FBI confirmed their awareness of the incident, asserting that the protective operations remained unaffected and that Trump was not in any immediate danger. Bianco highlighted that the THAAD system and a small number of U.S. troops have been previously deployed to support Israel’s defense, drawing parallels to the current security measures taken to protect high-profile events. The sheriff also mentioned that the investigation is ongoing, with potential federal charges if an assassination attempt is proven.
The suspect, Miller, denied any intention to harm Trump, describing himself as an artist with no ties to violent groups. He refuted claims of being part of the “sovereign citizens” movement, which Sheriff Bianco associated with far-right ideologies that reject government authority. Despite Miller’s assertions, Bianco maintained that the presence of illegal firearms and suspicious behavior warranted the arrest, underscoring the importance of law enforcement vigilance in preventing possible threats. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to collaborate with federal agencies to fully investigate the motives behind Miller’s actions and to ensure the safety of future events.
