Man arrested with firearm at Trump-owned golf course before presidential fundraiser
A 38-year-old man was detained at Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes after police found a pistol, prohibited ammunition and other weapons, weeks before President Trump’s scheduled fundraising dinner.
Los Angeles County authorities arrested Jeanine John Taele, 38, at Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes after he was observed walking the grounds, taking photos and videos. Plain-clothes federal agents reported the individual to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, which located a loaded pistol, a 16-round magazine of hollow-point ammunition and additional firearms in his vehicle.
Taele is being held on charges of carrying a concealed firearm and possessing prohibited ammunition. The sheriff’s department said the arrest followed a tip that linked the suspect to a robbery investigated by the El Segundo Police Department, about 15 miles north of the golf course.
A subsequent raid on the suspect’s home in Downey by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau uncovered an illegally modified AR-style rifle, a .45-caliber pistol, body armor, high-capacity magazines, assorted ammunition and notebooks containing “concerning statements.”
Officials indicated that the investigation, which includes assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, is ongoing and may result in additional charges. The sheriff’s department emphasized that no credible threat to the community has been identified and highlighted the role of inter-agency cooperation in preventing potential security incidents.
The arrest occurred ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to California for a Republican fundraising dinner at the same venue, where he is expected to deliver a speech. The event is part of a broader series of campaign activities leading up to the November mid-term elections.