A man arrested at a security checkpoint near former President Donald Trump’s rally in California on Saturday is facing gun charges after authorities discovered loaded firearms, multiple passports, and a fake license plate in his vehicle. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco stated on Sunday that the arrest may have thwarted an assassination attempt, although he emphasized that this was still "speculation."

The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Las Vegas resident Vem Miller, was taken into custody without incident around 5 p.m. local time. Jail records show Miller was released on $5,000 bail later that evening. He faces charges of possessing a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine, both considered misdemeanors.

“What we do know is he showed up with multiple passports under different names, an unregistered vehicle with a fake license plate, and loaded firearms,” Sheriff Bianco said during a news conference on Sunday. “I truly believe we prevented another assassination attempt.”

The incident occurred just before Trump took the stage at the rally held in the Coachella Valley, a region famous for its annual music and arts festival. According to the sheriff’s office, the arrest did not affect the safety of Trump or attendees at the event.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles confirmed that Trump was not in danger during the event, according to the U.S. Secret Service. While no federal arrest has been made, a federal investigation is underway.

This arrest comes in the wake of two prior assassination attempts targeting Trump earlier this year. In July, a gunman's bullet grazed Trump’s ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In September, a man was charged with attempting to assassinate Trump after Secret Service agents found him hiding near Trump's Palm Beach golf course with a rifle.

The repeated threats have raised concerns about Secret Service security measures as Trump continues his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.