### Suspect Arrested with Guns at Trump Rally in California

A potentially dangerous situation was averted on Saturday as authorities apprehended a man armed with firearms near a campaign rally for Donald Trump in Coachella Valley, California. Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Vem Miller.

Miller was stopped at a checkpoint approximately half a mile from the rally's entrance shortly before the event was set to begin. According to Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, this swift action potentially prevented another assassination attempt on the former president.

The police found Miller in possession of a loaded shotgun, a handgun, and a high-capacity magazine. He is allegedly associated with a right-wing anti-government group and identifies as a "sovereign citizen," a term used for individuals who reject governmental authority unless they personally consent to it. Miller has an academic background with a master's degree from UCLA and a history in politics, having run for the Nevada state assembly in 2022.

The security personnel at the rally initially grew suspicious due to peculiarities in Miller's press and VIP passes. "They were different enough to cause the deputies alarm," Bianco told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Consequently, Miller was detained and subsequently booked for possessing loaded firearms and a high-capacity magazine. He was later released on $5,000 bail.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office issued a statement ensuring that the incident did not compromise the safety of either Trump or the rally attendees. This incident follows two other recent assassination attempts against Trump, one in July in Butler, Pennsylvania, and another in September near Trump's Palm Beach golf course.

The U.S. Secret Service confirmed they were informed of Miller's arrest and expressed their gratitude to local law enforcement for their support during the rally. Bianco noted, "I thought it's not going to happen in Riverside County. We don't have the same sicko issues and violent protests like they have in Los Angeles."

In addition, Bianco mentioned that the FBI is currently questioning another man after bomb-sniffing dogs identified him as a potential threat. This individual was not allowed to attend the rally.

Miller is scheduled for a court appearance at the Indio Larson Justice Center on January 2, 2025, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department inmate database.