Authorities in Arizona have arrested a 66-year-old man, Ronald Syvrud, who allegedly threatened to kill former President Donald Trump during his visit to the Grand Canyon State.
Syvrud was taken into custody without incident in Cochise County on Thursday, according to local law enforcement.
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office launched a manhunt earlier in the day after Syvrud made threats on social media targeting Trump.
Syvrud, who has outstanding warrants in both Wisconsin and Arizona, was sought “as an investigative lead for threats to kill a presidential candidate,” the sheriff’s office said.
Syvrud’s criminal history includes a warrant in Wisconsin for driving under the influence and charges in Arizona for a hit-and-run incident, as well as failure to register as a sex offender. He is also listed on the Wisconsin Department of Corrections sex offender registry for a previous conviction of second-degree sexual assault of a child.
The arrest came just hours before Trump was scheduled to speak at a campaign event in Cochise County, where he criticized Vice President Kamala Harris on immigration issues and pledged to complete the construction of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Trump, who has been campaigning across battleground states ahead of the November election, was reportedly unaware of the manhunt at the time of the event.
When informed by a reporter about the manhunt, Trump said “I haven’t heard about that. They probably want to keep it from me.” In a lighthearted manner, Trump joked about the incident, “Thank you for telling me. Let’s get out of here, right now.”
Later, Fox News’ Alicia Acuna questioned Trump on whether the threats that led to the manhunt would influence how he conducts his events. “I’ve heard about that. But I have to do my job. It’s a job. It’s a dangerous job, but I have to do my job,” Trump responded.
The threats against Trump follow an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania campaign rally last month, where a 20-year-old gunman shot the former president in the ear and killed one attendee.
In response to the escalating threats, Trump has continued to rely on improved security measures, including speaking behind bulletproof glass at recent rallies.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it was aware of the situation and was coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies.
Additional charges against Syvrud are expected as authorities continue their investigation.
Despite these dangers, Trump remains resolute in his efforts, vowing to “do things that are very bad for the bad guys” as he continues his push for the White House.