Armed Man Arrested for Impersonating Officer at Charlie Kirk Memorial Venue
A man was arrested for impersonating a law enforcement officer and carrying weapons at the site of Charlie Kirk's upcoming memorial service in Arizona.
An armed individual was arrested on Friday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the venue for the upcoming memorial service of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The man, identified as 42-year-old Joshua Runkles, was observed exhibiting suspicious behavior and claimed to be a member of law enforcement when approached by U.S. Secret Service agents.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety confirmed that Runkles is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency. He was booked into Maricopa County Jail on charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place. Runkles has since been released on bond.
According to law enforcement sources, Runkles was working as a private security officer for an influencer attending Sunday's memorial service. He initially claimed to be working with the Secret Service and presented credentials identifying himself as an out-of-town deputy sheriff.
The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating the circumstances surrounding his presence at the stadium.
The memorial service for Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on September 10 at Utah Valley University, is scheduled for Sunday. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several administration officials are expected to speak at the event.
A senior Department of Homeland Security official stated that the memorial service has been designated as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event, a classification used for significant events requiring extensive federal interagency support.