An armed individual detained on Friday at the Arizona memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been formally charged on Saturday with impersonating a law enforcement officer.
The authorities have identified the man as Joshua Runkles, 42, who was apprehended at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, due to “exhibiting suspicious behavior,” according to a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Runkles was first approached by the Secret Service, after which he allegedly “falsely claimed to be a member of law enforcement and stated that he was armed.”
He now faces charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer, a felony, along with carrying a weapon into a restricted area, a misdemeanor, as per the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Runkles was booked into the Maricopa County Jail, but was since released on bond.
A representative from Turning Point USA, affiliated with Kirk’s organization, stated on social media Saturday that the person detained was conducting advance security for a guest intending to attend the memorial service, asserting, “We do not believe this person had any malicious intent.”
But Andrew Kolvet said the advance work was not done in “proper coordination” with TPUSA or the U.S. Secret service.
An Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman said an investigation continues.
The forthcoming memorial for Kirk, who tragically lost his life last week in Utah, is scheduled for Sunday. The event will feature Super-Bowl-level security protocols and has been classified as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event.
President Trump, Vice President Vance and other administration officials are set to give remarks at the funeral service.
On Friday, federal authorities said they are tracking “several threats of unknown credibility” against people who plan to be at the service.
After a manhunt for Kirk’s shooter, law enforcement identified Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah resident, as the alleged suspect. Utah is seeking the death penalty against the suspect.
