Authorities have arrested a man who was allegedly impersonating a law enforcement officer and carrying a weapon at State Farm Stadium, the site of a memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Joshua Runkles, 42, was taken into custody after exhibiting “suspicious behavior” at the stadium in Glendale, Arizona, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). He has been booked on charges of carrying a weapon into a prohibited place and impersonating a police officer.
The DPS confirmed that Runkles is not a law enforcement officer. He has since been released on bond, and an investigation is ongoing to determine his intentions.
Following the arrest, Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet stated on X that Runkles was performing advance security for a known guest attending the memorial service. Kolvet claimed that while the individual’s actions were not coordinated with the TPUSA security team or the Secret Service, they did not believe he had any “nefarious” intent.
The U.S. Secret Service is also investigating the incident in coordination with local law enforcement. A Secret Service spokesperson told ABC News that agents approached the individual, who claimed to be a law enforcement officer and was armed. The spokesperson confirmed that the man was not an authorized officer for the event.
