Monday, June 20, 2016

British man in US illegally attempts to assassinate Trump in Las Vegas, planned the assassination for a year, is unemployed, living out of his car-AP

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"A British man accused of trying to take a police officer's gun and kill Donald Trump in Las Vegas has been denied bail by a federal judge.

Federal Magistrate Judge George Foley on Monday declined to grant bail to 20-year-old Michael Steven Sandford, who's charged with an act of violence on restricted grounds. Foley said Sandford was a risk to the community and a flight risk. Sandford has not entered a plea.

Court research shows he is unemployed, living out of his car and in the U.S. illegally. A federal public defender says he has autism and has attempted suicide.

 
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 Earlier AP report:

6/20/16, "Secret Service: Man at rally said he wanted to kill Trump," AP, Michelle Rindels, Las Vegas

 "A man arrested at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas told authorities he tried to grab an officer's gun so he could kill the candidate, the Secret Service said.
 
A complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Nevada charges Michael Steven Sandford with an act of violence on restricted grounds. He was expected to appear in court later in the day as the investigation continued.

Authorities said Sandford went to a Trump rally on Saturday at the Treasure Island Casino and approached a Las Vegas police officer to say he wanted an autograph from Trump. The report says Sandford was arrested after grabbing the handle of an officer's gun in an attempt to remove it.

It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney. Las Vegas police say Sandford is 19.

He had a United Kingdom driver's license with him at the time, according to the complaint signed by Secret Service Special Agent Joseph Hall.

Agents said Sandford told them he had been in the U.S. for about a year and a half, lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, and drove to the San Bernardino, California, area before coming to Las Vegas on June 16.

Sandford told officers he had been planning an assassination for about a year and was convinced he would die in the attempt. He said he also reserved a ticket for a Trump rally in Phoenix, scheduled for later in the day, as a backup.

He told authorities that he went to the Battlefield Vegas shooting range the day before the rally and fired 20 rounds from a 9mm Glock pistol to learn how to use it. Police detectives who visited the range spoke with an employee who confirmed that he provided Sandford shooting lessons, according to the complaint.

About 1,500 people attended the Las Vegas rally, which was held in the Mystere Theater inside the casino. Attendees had to pass through metal detectors manned by Secret Service, police and casino security officials."

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June 18, 2016 Las Vegas Review Journal article on day of arrest:

6/18/16, "Man arrested at Trump rally tried to disarm Metro officer," Las Vegas Review Journal, Christian Bertolaccini

 "Man arrested at Trump rally tried to disarm officer."

"The man arrested at a rally for Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump was taken into custody after he tried to disarm a police officer, the Metropolitan Police Department said.

Michael Sandford, 19, approached a uniformed Metro officer at the TI rally, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South, police said. “Sandford began a conversation with the officer under the pretense that he was seeking an autograph,” Metro said. Sandford then tried to disarm the officer, the department said.

Rog Xavier contacted the Review-Journal and said he saw a man reach for an officer’s gun before the arrest at the rally.
“The officers assigned to the event were able to quickly take Sandford into custody with little further disruption at the venue,” Metro said.

“Custody of Sandford has since been handed over to the United States Secret Service, where he will face formal charges.” No further details were immediately available."



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