A Man Was Arrested for Grabbing a Policeman’s Gun at Treasure Island Casino Rally: Donald Trump Was His Target
A man was arrested over the weekend for his attempt to grab a policeman’s firearm during a Donald Trump political rally at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino. The Californian man had practiced firing weapons at a California gun range, and is now alleged to have driven to the Las Vegas rally in order to assassinate the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party’s nomination.
On Saturday, Donald Trump had a rally at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, which is located on the Las Vegas Strip. The rally was held inside a packed 1600-seat theater inside Treasure Island. The subject of Donald Trump’s speech was pro-gun, as he discussed the need to fight Islam in the wake of the Orlando night club shooting.
Michael Steven Sandford: Would-Be Assassin
The man who allegedly sought to shoot Donald Trump was Michael Steven Sandford, a British national who had been in the country illegally for the past 18 months, after his Visa expired. Michael Sandford apparantely has spent most of that time living in his car in Hoboken, New Jersey. Prior to coming to Las Vegas, Sandford had spent some time in San Bernadino, California.
On the Friday before the incident, Mr. Sandford went to the Battlefield Vegas shooting range and shot off 20 rounds from a 9mm Glock pistol, in preparation for his presumed assassination attempt. Once at the rally, Michael Sandford targeted the gun of Las Vegas police officer Ameel Jacob, whose gun was in an unlocked position. Sandford told Officer Jacob he wanted an autograph from Donald Trump, then tried to grab the officer’s gun from his holster. After he grabbed the handle of the gun, police subdued the would-be assassin.
Led Away by LVPD and Secret Service
A film crew from a local television station, KLAS, filmed Michael Sandford being detained and taken away from the rally. A Secret Service report filed by Special Agent Swierkowski said that Michael Sandford claimed he had driven from California in order to kill the GOP nominee.
According to the Secret Service report, Michael Sandford said he had been planning the attempt for the past 12 months. Court records showed that Sandford claimed he would attempt to do the same thing, if he were on the streets again. Sandford also mentioned that he had tickets for a Trump rally in Phoenix, Arizona, later in the day. He was charged with “act of violence on restricted grounds“.
Michael Sandford Is Autistic
In the court of Federal Magistrate Judge George Foley, Sandford’s public defender said his client was autistic. Michael Sandford’s mother later said her son suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder and anorexia in his earlier years.
Given his stated violent intentions and his singlemindedness, it appears the Michael Sandford has psychological issues. No one with the Trump Campaign commented on the arrest, as they said it was a matter for the Secret Service.
British Foreign Office’s Statement
Michael Sandford likely is going to face trial on the charges. In all certain, he will be deported, whether it is before a trial, after a trial, or after his sentence. The British Foreign Office is involved in the case, as a spokesman said, “We are providing assistance following an arrest of a British national in Las Vegas.”
Natalie Collins, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney Office in Las Vegas, recommended the court detain Michael Sandford, because she says he is a flight risk. A preliminary hearing is set to take place in a Las Vegas court on July 5.
About Donald Trump
Donald Trump’s candidacy for the U.S. presidency has inspired a great deal of passion, whether one is “for” or “against” the GOP’s presumptive nominee. When Donald Trump announced he would run for president in June 2015, few gave him a realistic chance of winning a major US party’s nomination. In his press conference to announce his candidacy, Donald Trump created a stir by making disparaging remarks about Mexicans.
Despite the imbroglio (or because of it), Donald Trump gained standing among the Republican field of 17 candidates. Even when he insulted the military service of a former Vietnam POW, Sen. John McCain, Donald Trump rose in the polls. He led the Republican polls from wire-to-wire, which led to mysticification among the punditry and the general population as a whole. Donald Trump only gained the support of a majority of Republicans late in the nomination process, though he always had a secure lead over his rival Republicans. Trump won 37 of 50 states in the GOP nomination process.
The incident with Michael Sandford has received little attention in the U.S. broadcast media. The Los Angeles Times in the US and the Daily Mail in the UK have reported on the case, but the cable news channels seemed interested in other aspects of the election.
