Latest on the armed man detained at Charlie Kirk memorial site in Arizona
MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. (NBC, KYMA) - There are new details about the man armed with guns and knives arrested by the U.S. Secret Service Friday inside State Farm Stadium ahead of Charlie Kirk's memorial service.
Police say he claimed to be working security and now, Turning Point USA is responding.
41-year-old Joshua Runkles, appearing in Maricopa County Superior Court, is charged with impersonating a peace officer and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place.
Court documents reveal Runkles approached a Department of Public Safety (DPS) major working security outside State Farm Stadium Friday, claiming he was with a security detail through Turning Point USA.
Runkles told the trooper he was armed and presented a Franklin County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) badge along with Idaho law enforcement credentials, according to police.
The DPS major told Runkels to contact Turning Point USA so they could coordinate with the Secret Service.
Runkels was told he was not allowed to enter the stadium, or be armed on the property, police say runkels was respectful and said he understood.
But two hours later, a Secret Service agent found him inside the stadium on the club level.
Court documents show he was detained, and agents found two firearms and several knives on him.
Police say Runkels pretended to have authority as peace officer, but is not one in the state of Arizona, and is not currently employed with the FCSO.
Court documents show Runkels lives in North Carolina, and works for a California ministry, whose leader has a large following on social media.
Turning Point USA released a statement saying Runkels was doing advance security for a known guest planning to attend Sunday's memorial.
A spokesperson added, "We do not believe this person was attempting anything nefarious, however the advance was not done in proper coordination with the TPUSA security team or the U.S. Secret Service."
The memorial service is taking place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona at 11:00 a.m.
