Armed Man Arrested Outside LA Golf Course Two Days Before Trump Visit

Trump arrived in Los Angeles late Tuesday for a Republican National Committee fundraiser at the golf resort.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, plainclothes federal agents became suspicious on Sunday, when they spotted Taele walking the grounds of the golf resort while “taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security-planning activities.”

Deputies approached the 38-year-old, and during a pat-down allegedly recovered a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition from his pants pocket.

A subsequent search of his pickup truck, which was parked in the golf course parking lot, unearthed a loaded pistol with a round in the chamber, along with another loaded magazine containing hollow-point ammunition.

Taele was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm and possession of prohibited ammunition.

On Monday, deputies searched his home, and an “illegally modified AR platform rifle,” a .45-caliber pistol, body armor, high-capacity magazines and ammunition.

The department said that “Multiple notebooks containing concerning statements” and two “radio signal devices” were also discovered.

Taele pleaded not guilty Tuesday to four criminal charges stemming from his arrest, including a charge of possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, a felony that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

“While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the President’s visit,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring. This investigation remains ongoing.”

According to the U.S. State Attorneys office, Taele originally told federal agents he was employed by the State Department and was at the location for a security detail. Also found inside his truck were a pair of binoculars, and a badge that read, “security protection agent.”

“Mr. Taele’s troubling behavior at the President’s public golf course merely days before the President was expected to arrive raised serious red flags for law enforcement and led to the discovery of an unregistered firearm, a loaded weapon, as well as additional items of concern,” said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

“There is no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump’s life, and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, working with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service, the ATF, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, will investigate this case thoroughly.”