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Man arrested at Trump rally sues sheriff for alleged civil rights violations
NO. 194
VOL. 8,
San Bernardino County crews ramp up flood-protection efforts By Staff
By City News Service
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s winter nears, the San Bernardino County Public Works Department is intensifying work to prevent flooding in areas affected by the recent Bridge and Line fires, officials said Thursday. The wildfires have scorched nearly 99,000 acres and left areas susceptible to flooding, prompting the department to do flood mitigation work. The 54,878-acre Bridge Fire began in Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Canyon and spread eastward into San Bernardino County. The Flood Control District, which is part of San Bernardino County Public Works, has been coordinating with Cal Fire, the Burned Area Emergency Response team and California Watershed Emergency Response Teams to establish a plan for preparing for future floods and debris flows in the fire-affected areas. Public Works crews have been clearing debris, vegetation and sediment from basins, channels and storm drains to prevent blockages that could lead to flooding, according to a county statement. Flood control teams are on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week as storms approach, and readied equipment has been placed throughout the county for fast deployment. To enhance flood risk monitoring, the Flood Control See Flood-protection Page 23 Sheriff Chad Bianco speaks to reporters Oct. 13 following the arrest of a man in possession of firearms at a Donald Trump rally in Coachella. | Photo courtesy of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Facebook
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49-year-old Las Vegas man arrested at the recent GOP presidential rally for candidate Donald Trump in Coachella, allegedly with guns and false identification in his vehicle, is federally suing Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and some deputies for alleged civil rights violations. Vem Miller filed his civil action in Nevada, alleging defamation and stating in court papers that Bianco “intentionally, maliciously and with a blatant disregard for the truth, wanted to create a narrative so as to be viewed as a `heroic’ sheriff who saved presidential candidate Trump from a third assassination attempt.” Bianco did not immediately issue a personal public statement regarding the suit, but he told the Los Angeles Times in a text message Tuesday that
“three days later, if everything Mr. Miller has said is true, and I really hope it is, then he probably wasn’t there to hurt former President Trump.” The sheriff’s department on Wednesday released the following: “We acknowledge the lawsuit filed against the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and take such matters seriously. However, as it is pending litigation, we cannot comment on the specifics at this time. We are committed to transparency and will cooperate fully with the legal process. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of the community we serve.” Miller’s suit is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. He was taken into custody the afternoon of Oct. 12 prior to Trump arriving for the Coachella Valley event, which Bianco attended in a public show
of support for the former commander-in-chief. Bianco alleged that Miller, who is a registered Republican and active in the Clark County Republican Party’s Central Committee, drove into the VIP parking lot near the stage carrying a loaded handgun and shotgun. Miller has stated publicly that he often carries firearms for protection. He told one social media influencer earlier this week that he was the one who declared the guns prior to deputies flagging him for questioning. That version of events contrasted with what Bianco said in a news briefing over the weekend, telling reporters that a deputy noticed “the interior of (the suspect’s) vehicle in disarray (and what appeared to be) a fake license plate,” promptSee Trump rally Page 24
ing deputies to detain Miller and conduct further investigation. “The license plate was homemade and indicative of individuals who claim to be sovereign citizens,” Bianco said, suggesting there were concerns Miller might be some kind of militiaman. The sheriff also alleged there were “multiple fake passports” in the suspect’s pickup. “As far as I’m concerned, a minimum of 25,000 people passed deputies with legitimate identification and didn’t have guns,” Bianco said. “I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination attempt. I truly do believe that we prevented another assassination attempt.” The U.S. Secret Service and FBI found no justification for an investigation
Home sales slow in September in Riverside County, statewide By City News Service
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ome sales slowed in September in Riverside County and across the state, the California Association of Realtors announced Thursday. The county saw an 0.8% decline in sales compared to August, and a 1.8% decrease over September 2023. Statewide, September’s sales pace fell 3.4% from the 262,050 homes sold in August and was up 5.1% from a year ago, when a revised 240,840 homes were sold on an annualized basis. The sales pace has remained below the See Home sales Page 02
300,000-threshold for the past two years, while yearto-date home sales edged up 0.9% from the first nine months of 2023, according to statewide figures. “The inventory of homes for sale has steadily improved in recent months as the market moves into the typical off-peak homebuying season,” CAR President Melanie Barker said in a statement. “With home prices likely to moderate further in the coming months, the fourth quarter could offer an opportunity for potential buyers who have been waiting