A 66-year-old Arizona resident, Ronald Syvrud, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly threatening to kill former President Donald Trump during his visit to the state.
The Hill reported that the arrest occurred in Cochise County just hours after Syvrud made the threats on social media, prompting a swift response from law enforcement.
Syvrud was apprehended without incident after a brief manhunt initiated earlier in the day.
According to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, the arrest was made following investigative efforts to locate Syvrud, who had become the focus of attention after making the threats online. The sheriff’s office shared news of the arrest on Facebook, confirming that Syvrud was in custody.
The arrest of Syvrud is not his first encounter with law enforcement. He has an outstanding warrant in Wisconsin for driving under the influence.
Additionally, Syvrud is wanted in Arizona for failing to register as a sex offender and is also implicated in a hit-and-run incident.
The threats against Trump came just as the former president was attending a campaign event in Cochise County.
During the event, Trump was critical of Vice President Kamala Harris’s stance on immigration, particularly her opposition to the construction of the border wall.
During his speech, Trump recounted stories of individuals who had been killed by migrants, using these accounts to advocate for the completion of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Trump emphasized the need for tougher sentences for drug traffickers and criticized Harris, saying, “She will never build the wall. She doesn’t want to build the wall.”
The former president went on to suggest that any change in Harris’s stance would be politically motivated. “If she changes her mind, it’s only because she wants to get elected, because who wouldn’t want to have a strong border,” Trump said.
Following Syvrud’s social media posts, law enforcement agencies quickly moved to locate and apprehend him.
The Cochise County Sheriff's Office identified Syvrud as a person of interest, stating that he was “sought as an investigative lead for threats to kill a presidential candidate.”
Carol Capas, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, confirmed that the threats were made on social media.
Capas provided no further details about the nature of the threats or the specific platform used, but the urgency of the response indicated the severity with which authorities viewed the situation.
The threats against Trump come just a month after a more direct attack during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. In that incident, a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, injuring Trump’s right ear and killing one attendee.
The Pennsylvania incident has heightened concerns about Trump’s safety during public appearances, leading to increased security measures.
During a recent interview with NewsNation’s Ali Bradley at the U.S. southern border, Trump alluded to the dangers he faces, saying, “Can I tell you something? We’re in danger standing here talking.”
He continued, “So let’s not talk any longer. [Security] doesn’t want me standing here. They don’t want you standing here either.”
