Share
News

Man Arrested for Allegedly Brandishing Weapons at Trump Rally

Share

A Maine rally for President Donald Trump was briefly disrupted Wednesday by a man allegedly brandishing weapons who was later arrested by police.

The rally was headlined by Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who has been acting as a Trump surrogate in the presidential election’s stretch run, according to Dakota News Now.

At around 9:45 a.m., Noem arrived on a Team Trump bus at a Bangor, Maine, strip mall.

Trump himself was not in attendance.

Trending:
Hillary Clinton Jumps Into Trump 'Bloodbath' Frenzy with a Question, Doesn't Want to Hear the Answers

Her arrival coincided with a string of alleged interactions between Peter Beitzell, 58, of Bangor, and Trump supporters.

Police said the incident began with angry words and Trump supporters being harassed, and escalated when Beitzell had an interaction with a member of Noem’s security team.

Beitzell at one moved toward the Trump supporters while brandishing a wooden baton and a knife, police said. He was told to put them weapons away, but allegedly walked toward a security guard while still holding them.

Should Beitzell be sentenced to prison time for his alleged actions?

Although Beitzell eventually put the weapons away in his vehicle, police arrived and arrested him, authorities said. He faces several charges, including a felony charge of threatening with a criminal weapon.

Noem “was not in harm’s way” at any point, Noem spokeswoman Maggie Seidel told The Associated Press.

The rally continued as planned and no one was injured.

Related:
Breaking: 3 Charges Against Trump Dismissed by Fulton County Judge

In giving his side of the story, Beitzell said the trouble began when he flipped off the bus carrying Noem.

Three men approached him, he said, making him feel threatened. One was actually a South Dakota police officer, but Beitzell insisted the officer did not show his badge.

Hence, he said, the weapons.

“Yes, I was an idiot,” Beitzell told the AP. “I was a dummy who pulled a weapon, but there were three of them marching over toward me.”

Noem, who was at a Trump rally in Omaha, Nebraska, on Tuesday, went on to campaign for the president in New Hampshire later on Wednesday.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , , ,
Share
Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues.
Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues.
Jack can be reached at jackwritings1@gmail.com.
Location
New York City
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Foreign Policy, Military & Defense Issues




Conversation