A man has been arrested for allegedly surveilling Donald Trump's luxury California golf course and possessing multiple weapons, thwarting a potential security threat just days before the president's intended visit.
Arrest and weapons found
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies arrested Jeanine John Taele, 38, from California, after he was caught taking pictures and videos of the golf course. Once in custody, officers found a loaded magazine and a pistol in his car.
After searching his house in Downey, California, they found a .45-calibre pistol, body armour, an illegally modified AR-type pistol, and other weapons. The Sheriff's deputies also found 'multiple notebooks containing concerning statements'.
FBI response
Patrick Grandy, from the FBI's Los Angeles office, said: 'Mr. Taele's troubling behaviour at the President's public golf course merely days before the President was expected to arrive raised serious red flags for law enforcement. There is no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump's life.'
The US President is visiting Los Angeles now, having landed late Tuesday evening. Trump has faced a litany of death threats before.
Previous incident
Earlier this year, Cole Thomas Allen, from Torrance, California, allegedly opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner as Trump ate his meal. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives when he charged at a security checkpoint by the ballroom.
In his manifesto sent to his family, who reported it to the police, he revealed he was hell-bent on killing Trump administration officials in order of importance but didn't include FBI director Kash Patel on that list. The writings, some of which were found in the hotel room where he was staying – the same hotel where the dinner was – didn't mention the correspondent's dinner. Trump later posted pictures of the suspect in the shooting lying face down on the carpeted floor, topless.
