Man detained at Kirk memorial site charged with impersonating cop
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An armed man who was detained on Friday at the memorial venue in Arizona for the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk was charged on Saturday with impersonating a law enforcement officer. 

Authorities identified the man as Joshua Runkles, 42, who was taken into custody at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., after “exhibiting suspicious behavior,” a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

Runkles was initially approached by the Secret Service. He then allegedly “falsely claimed to be a member of law enforcement and stated that he was armed.” 

Runkles was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, a felony, and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place, a misdemeanor, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

Runkles was booked into the Maricopa County Jail, but was since released on bond. 

A spokesperson for Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, said on social media Saturday that the detained individual was doing advance security for a guest planning to attend the memorial service, adding, “We do not believe this person was attempting anything nefarious.”

But Andrew Kolvet said the advance work was not done in “proper coordination” with TPUSA or the U.S. Secret service.

An Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman said an investigation continues.

The upcoming memorial for Kirk, who was killed last week in Utah, is set to take place on Sunday. The event will have Super-Bowl-level security measures. It was designated as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event. 

President Trump, Vice President Vance and other administration officials are set to give remarks at the funeral service.  

On Friday, federal authorities said they are tracking “several threats of unknown credibility” against people who plan to be at the service. 

After a manhunt for Kirk’s shooter, law enforcement identified Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah resident, as the alleged suspect. Utah is seeking the death penalty against the suspect. 

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