Man arrested near Trump LA golf course identified as Marine veteran
The suspect was seen taking photos and videos of the grounds, authorities said.
RANCH PALOS VERDES, Calif. (KABC) -- A man who was arrested near Donald Trump's Los Angeles-area golf course, days before the president's planned visit, was a U.S. Marine who was deployed to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2010.
Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey was arrested Sunday after federal agents reported a suspicious person at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. He's facing both state and federal charges for possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
If found guilty, the felony charge carries a 10-year maximum sentence in federal prison.
Taele was a corporal in the U.S. Marines and worked as a warehouse clerk. He served from 2008 to 2016, with tours in Iraq from 2008 to 2009 and Afghanistan from June 2010 to December 2010.
Taele was a security guard who was licensed to carry firearms, but those licenses were recently canceled. He was set to appear in court Wednesday on a federal weapons charge but the hearing was canceled, according to the Associated Press.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Taele was seen walking through the golf course grounds, "taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security-planning activities," on Friday, July 31. He was reportedly seen wearing an earpiece.
Taele later left the area and drove away, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
On Sunday, Aug. 2, Taele reportedly returned to the golf club and staff notified federal agents, who were still at the location continuing their security assessment. According to the DOJ, Taele approached the federal agents and stated that he was employed by the State Department and was at the location for security detail.
He admitted to having a loaded firearm in his car, which was parked in the Trump Golf Club parking lot.
Deputies detained Taele and determined he was being investigated for a 2025 robbery by the El Segundo Police Department. He was granted $250,000 bail in that case, according to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
According to the Sheriff's Department, deputies recovered a 16-round magazine containing hollow point ammunition from Taele's pants pocket.
They also searched his vehicle and found a loaded 9mm pistol with a round chambered, along with an additional loaded magazine containing hollow point ammunition. He also reportedly had a pair of binoculars and a badge that read, "security protection agent."
Deputies conduct search warrant
Deputies executed a search warrant on Monday, Aug. 3, at Taele's home in Downey and found the following items:
- 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
- Multiple notebooks containing concerning statements
- Two radio signal devices
The arrest stunned neighbors in Downey, who described the area as typically quiet.
"It's a quiet neighborhood. All of a sudden all these Secret Service and undercover cars come flying up, and it's just a very unusual scene for this neighborhood," neighbor Larry Rusin said.
One next-door neighbor described Taele as a father whom neighbors affectionately call "Moose."
The FBI and the Secret Service are both investigating the incident.
Taele remains in custody.
Authorities are continuing to investigate what brought Taele to the golf club.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
