Authorities in California have arrested a man who was seen near a golf course owned by President Donald Trump in the Los Angeles area, just ahead of the president’s visit for a fundraising dinner there.

Incident at Trump National Golf Course

Jeanine John Taele, 38, was found with a pistol and armour-piercing ammunition in his vehicle at the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes, investigators say.

According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, he was “observed walking throughout the golf course grounds taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security-planning activities”.

Timing of the Arrest

The arrest took place on Sunday afternoon. Trump is currently visiting California to attend a Republican party fundraising dinner.

In a news release, the sheriff’s department said Taele was arrested after plainclothes federal agents reported a suspicious person to local authorities.

When police confronted the man, they discovered that he was being sought in connection to a robbery by the El Segundo Police Department, about 15 miles (25km) north of Rancho Palos Verdes, a wealthy coastal enclave known for its hills and scenic cliffs.

Weapons and Ammunition Found

Authorities searched him and found he was carrying a 16-round magazine containing hollow point ammunition. In his vehicle, which was parked at the golf course, they found a loaded pistol, along with a loaded magazine containing hollow-point ammunition.

Due to the “potential security implications surrounding the incident”, officials obtained a warrant to search Taele’s home and found an “illegally modified AR platform rifle”, a.45 pistol, body armour, high-capacity magazines, a plethora of bullets for pistols and rifles and multiple notebooks “containing concerning statements”.

“During the detention, deputies recovered a 16-round magazine containing hollow point ammunition from Taele’s pants pocket,” the statement says.

“Deputies after that searched Taele’s vehicle and recovered a loaded pistol with a round chambered, along with an additional loaded magazine containing hollow point ammunition.”

He was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm, and possession of armour-piercing or prohibited ammunition.