Man arrested with firearms near Trump golf club in Southern California ahead of presidential visit

Investigators searched Taele's home in nearby Downey on Monday and found "a plethora of firearms, magazines and ammunition, body armor, and notebooks with 'concerning statements,'" the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. The sheriff's department added that there is "no credible threat to our communities."

Search of the suspect's home

Taele pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday, court records show. He was being held as investigators continued to review the materials recovered during the search, officials said.

The Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes is one of several golf properties associated with Donald Trump. The club sits on a stretch of coastal bluffs in southern Los Angeles County, about 25 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.

Heightened security ahead of visit

Local and federal authorities had been on heightened alert in the days leading up to Trump's planned visit. The El Segundo Police Department said its officers were conducting routine security sweeps of the golf course in coordination with federal partners ahead of the event.

Officials did not immediately provide additional details about the specific charges Taele faced or the full text of the statements found in the notebooks. The sheriff's department said the investigation remained active and that more information would be released as it became available.

Rancho Palos Verdes lies within the patrol area of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The El Segundo Police Department, which operates in a neighboring jurisdiction, has been leading the on-site investigation at the golf course, with sheriff's deputies handling evidence collection at Taele's Downey residence.

Multi-agency response

The arrest drew on a multi-agency response, with local police, sheriff's deputies, and federal authorities coordinating ahead of Trump's visit. Officials stressed that the public was not believed to be at risk.

Trump has played multiple rounds at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes over the years, and the property has hosted political fundraisers and gatherings. His planned visit this week had been announced publicly before the arrest.

Authorities urged anyone with information related to the case to contact the El Segundo Police Department. The sheriff's department said additional security measures would remain in place around the golf club through the duration of Trump's visit.