Police and Secret Service Apprehend Man With Gun and Knife Who Claimed to Be Providing Private Security.
Arizona officials have announced charges against a man allegedly found with a gun and a knife inside State Farm Stadium on Friday, just two days before a major memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The individual, identified as Joshua Runkles, was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, a felony, and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place, a misdemeanor.
The arrest was made by the Secret Service, who observed Runkles exhibiting suspicious behavior inside the stadium.
According to Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, the man was detained “prior to the setup of any secure perimeter.”
A federal source familiar with the investigation told Fox News that Runkles, a former law enforcement member from another state, allegedly told agents he was at the stadium to provide private security and presented expired credentials.
The incident occurred as security for Sunday’s memorial service is at an extremely high level. The Department of Homeland Security has designated the event a “Special Event Assessment Rating Level 1,” a classification reserved for events of “the highest national significance” and on par with security for the Super Bowl.
The memorial service is expected to draw approximately 100,000 attendees, including high-profile political figures.
The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement are continuing their investigation into the circumstances of Runkles’ presence at the stadium.
READ :Charlie Kirk’s Producer Blasts New York Rep. AOC For “Disgusting” Comments
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