Man arrested near a Donald Trump rally in Coachella, California, allegedly with a high-capacity magazine

COACHELLA, Calif. (CNS) – A 49-year-old Las Vegas man was arrested Saturday near former President Donald Trump's rally in Coachella with a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said Sunday.

Sheriff's officials said deputies at the rally contacted the driver of a black SUV at a checkpoint near the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive just before 5 p.m. Saturday.

They allegedly found the driver in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun and a high-capacity magazine. The driver was identified as Vem Miller, taken into custody and later booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of possession of a loaded firearm and a high capacity magazine.

Miller was released on $5,000 bail Saturday and was scheduled to appear at the Indio Larson Justice Center on Jan. 2, 2025, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department inmate database.

According to the Sheriff's Department, the incident had no impact on the safety of former President Trump or those attending the event.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Deputy Coronado at 760-836-1600.

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