Man carrying ammunition arrested near Trump National Golf Club before president’s Southern California trip

By Dean Fioresi

A man was arrested near the Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles County over the weekend after authorities found ammunition and a gun inside his car, just days before the president’s planned Southern California visit for a Republican National Committee event on Tuesday. 

In a news release shared by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies said that plainclothes federal agents reported a suspicious individual on the property at 1 Trump National Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes on Saturday afternoon.

“The individual was observed walking throughout the golf course grounds taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security-planning activities,” the release said. 

When deputies approached the man, who has been identified as 38-year-old Downey resident Jeanine John Taele, they determined he was already under investigation by the El Segundo Police Department for an alleged robbery at an AT&T store in November 2025. 

“Deputies detained Taele and located his vehicle in a parking lot on the golf course,” the release said. “During the detention, deputies recovered a 16-round magazine containing hollow point ammunition from Taele’s pants pockets.”

While searching his vehicle, deputies said they also recovered a loaded pistol with a round chambered and an additional loaded magazine that also had hollow point ammo. Federal authorities also noted that a pair of binoculars and a badge that read “security protection agent” were also found.

Taele, a former U.S. Marine who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, was arrested and booked on charges of carrying a concealed firearm and possession of armor-piercing/prohibited ammunition, deputies said. 

“Recognizing the potential security implications surrounding the incident, detectives … obtained and executed a search warrant yesterday afternoon for Taele’s residence,” the release said. 

Investigators said an illegally modified AR platform rifle, a 1911 .45 caliber pistol, an AR platform upper receiver, body armor, high-capacity magazines, bulk pistol and rifle ammunition, two radio signal devices and multiple notebooks containing “concerning statements” were recovered from the home during Monday’s search warrant.

The statements referenced the White House, law enforcement sources told CBS News.

“With respect to this defendant, we do not comment on the specifics of protective intelligence matters,” the Secret Service said in a statement. “However, the U.S. Secret Service thoroughly investigates any information or activity that may reasonably be perceived as a protective intelligence concern or indicate a potential threat or directed interest toward any individual under Secret Service protection.”

Deputies said the investigation is being conducted with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the U.S. Secret Service. 

“Additional charges could be added as the investigation continues. Taele remains in custody,” the release said. “The investigation is ongoing.”

Law enforcement sources tell CBS News that Taele had initially approached employees at the golf course and falsely identified himself as a U.S. State Department employee who needed to see Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Secret Service personnel, who were already on the property to conduct advanced security preparations, were then alerted to Taele’s presence by staff.  

Deputies said the case was presented to the LA County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration on Tuesday morning. He was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning, but his hearing was postponed. No rescheduled date was announced.

Sources tell CBS News that Taele has no known prior history with the Secret Service and that he was not on their radar. Investigators said they would be reviewing the material and items recovered from Taele’s home, contacting friends and family members and reconstructing his activities before the arrest to determine his intentions.

“With respect to this defendant, we do not comment on the specifics of protective intelligence matters. However, the U.S. Secret Service thoroughly investigates any information or activity that may reasonably be perceived as a protective intelligence concern or indicate a potential threat or directed interest toward any individual under Secret Service protection,” a statement provided to CBS News from USSS said. 

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said on X that his office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were also investigating the incident, and that they would be providing information as soon as possible.

He later said that Taele was also federally charged for the incident, and that he now faces up to 10 years in federal prison after he was charged with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle. Taele still faces charges in a Los Angeles Superior Court for the incident, Essayli noted.

“While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the President’s visit,” a statement from Essayli said when federal charges were announced. “Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring. This investigation remains ongoing.”

President Trump was briefly in Southern California on Tuesday for a Republican National Committee fundraising dinner hosted at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf course. He departed a little before 9 p.m. as he heads to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Victim of alleged 2025 robbery speaks

The alleged victim of Taele’s November 2025 robbery spoke with CBS LA the day after his arrest was announced. 

“The way he was talking, he was reporting something to someone. Like, he was recording or doing some sort of voice talk to someone,” said Pavish Patel, the AT&T store employee working at the time of the alleged robbery. “I don’t know what that was.”

Patel said that Taele accused him of recording with his Meta glasses while he was inside the store trying to transfer his phone number. 

“I said, ‘I’m not recording you,’ and then I went back to mind my own business. Then he also starts saying, ‘If you’re recording me, it won’t be good for you.'”

He also alleged that Taele then followed a female customer to the door and started acting strangely, by reciting everything that was happening inside the store and documenting how many people were inside, where the exits were and how many security cameras he could see. 

Once Taele left, Patel says he came back and demanded that all of his personal information be deleted. After again leaving for a short time, Patel then said that Taele returned to the store and took his Meta glasses before leaving in his pickup truck. 

Taele pleaded not guilty to charges in the robbery case.