Arizona authorities launched a manhunt Thursday for a sex offender who threatened to kill former President Donald Trump, believing he is on the loose near the area of a speech Trump was giving on border policy.
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office released a press statement asking for the public’s help in locating 66-year-old Ronald Lee Syrvud, who is believed to be in Sierra Vista, Arizona, where Trump is set to speak on the border. Authorities described Syrvud as six feet tall and 220 pounds, with outstanding warrants and for failing to register as a sex offender.
“This subject has outstanding warrants from the state of Wisconsin for DUI / Failure to Appear for DUI and from Graham County Arizona for Hit/Run and Felony Failure to Register as a Sex Offender,” authorities stated in a Facebook post.
“Syvrud is being sought as an investigative lead for threats to kill a presidential candidate,” authorities continued.
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office told the Daily Caller News Foundation they had been “made aware of threatening statements made via social media by the subject Ronald Syvrud towards candidate Trump,” resulting in the public release of Syvrud’s identity.
Despite the manhunt, Trump spoke in the border town Thursday afternoon, criticizing the Biden administration’s border policies. He highlighted the stories of young women killed by illegal immigrants over the year, inviting some of their families to join him on stage.
Trump is expected to hold a campaign rally in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday, which will be held in partnership with Turning Point PAC and Turning Point Action, according to 12News.
The lookout for Syrvud follows the July 13 assassination attempt by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks at a Pennsylvania rally, where Crooks fired multiple shots at Trump and into the crowd, injuring Trump and killing former volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore.
The Secret Service has faced criticism for multiple security lapses, as Crooks had been spotted by local authorities on multiple occasions. The backlash ultimately led to former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigning on July 23.
The Secret Service has since revealed that the agency will be using bulletproof glass to protect the former president at his outdoor rallies in order to shield him from any threat while on stage.
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