New Trump assassination scare as gunman arrested near Coachella rally

An armed man was arrested outside Donald Trump's campaign rally in Coachella, California, sparking fears of another possible attempt on his life with just three weeks to the election.

Vem Miller, 49, was taken into custody after he was stopped at a checkpoint near the former president's rally in Coachella, California on Saturday just before 5 p.m. local time.

He allegedly presented fake VIP credentials and was found to be illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun and a high-capacity magazine in his vehicle.

Local law enforcement claimed the incident is 'probably' a third assassination attempt - after Trump was shot in the ear in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July, and an armed suspect plotted to kill him at his West Palm Beach, Florida, golf club in September.

But a source close to Trump campaign downplayed the threat and told DailyMaill.com that the gunman was apprehended before posing any danger. 

'This incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event,' the Riverside County Sheriff's Office insisted in a statement. 

But Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told Southern California News Group: 'We probably stopped another assassination attempt.' 

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Bianco, a known Trump supporter, told the outlet that Miller presented fake VIP and press passes at the checkpoint, which is what led to the search. 

He also had multiple passports and drivers licenses with different names in his car, Bianco said Sunday. 

He also doubled down, saying 'I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination attempt' and called Miller a political 'lunatic.'

He said his office is working closely with the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service. 

Miller was found to be in illegal possession of the firearms, magazines and ammo when his black SUV was checked by law enforcement on Saturday.

He was booked at John Benoit Detention Center, made his $10,000 bail – $5,000 for each of two misdemeanors for which he was charged – and as of Sunday was no longer in custody.

Miller has his next court appearance set for January 2.

'There was no assassination attempt in CA yesterday,' a source close with Trump's campaign told DailyMail.com. 'A man at a perimeter checkpoint had a gun but there was no incident.' 

The latest comes as Trump's protective detail remains on high alert following two assassination attempts against the former president.

The first came at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13 when 20-year-old shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks struck Trump in his right ear before being shot dead by Secret Service. 

The would-be assassin killed one rally goer and critically injured two others with his rifle where he was crouched a few hundred feet from where Trump was speaking that day.

Then just two months later on September 15, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested in Florida when he fled the scene after a Secret Service agent fired at him.

Routh allegedly aimed a rifle at Trump's detail while he was golfing at his club in West Palm Beach. 

It only took moments before the former president's security detail saw the barrel of the firearm and deterred a second assassination attempt.

Earlier this month, prosecutors requested an 'indefinite delay' in the trial for Routh as they comb through 'thousands of videos' and '4 million gigabytes' of text and audio files.

They also said they've executed 13 search warrants and have seized 'hundreds of items of evidence' including electronic devices.

Routh pleaded not guilty to several charges, including attempted assassination of the former president. 

He has been ordered to remain in jail without bail as his case snakes through the court.

He faces five total federal charges after cops said he pointed a rifle through a fence at Trump's golf club in West Palm Beach on September 15.

Last week, prosecutors revealed he wrote a chilling letter admitting he failed in trying to take the life of the former president.

Routh also offered $150,000 for anyone who could 'finish the job' according to the note released by the Department of Justice and obtained by DailyMail.com.

'This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,' the letter reads.

It was addressed to 'the world' and said Trump had 'ended relations with Iran like a child and now the Middle East has unraveled'.

Attorney General Merrick Garland was forced to defend making the letter public, after Republicans accused him of putting a '$150,000 bounty' on Trump's head