Huge update in hunt for Arizona man ‘who vowed to assassinate Donald Trump’

Arizona cops have arrested a man accused of threatening to assassinate Donald Trump.

Ronald Syrvud, 66, was apprehended Thursday evening, around seven hours after Cochise County Sheriff’s Office issued a wanted notice for him at about 2:30pm local time.

‘This subject has been taken into custody without incident in Cochise County. We appreciate all of the information received and the incredible collaborative efforts with all of our public safety partners,’ the sheriff’s office said in a statement. 

Police previously said Syvrud has several other warrants out for his arrest on separate charges, including for a DUI and failure to appear in court in Wisconsin, and for failure to register as a sex offender and felony hit and run in Arizona.

It comes six weeks after an attempt on Trump’s life saw a bullet hit the former president’s ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.  

Ronald Lee Syvrud, 66, was arrested by Arizona authorities in connection with an alleged assassination plot on Donald Trump

Sheriff Mark Dannels had ramped up security in the area around the section of border wall Trump was visiting as the the search went on for Syvrud.

Records show that he was a registered Democrat in the past, and owns a long rap sheet dating back to 1990 – including a conviction in 2000 for second degree sexual assault of a child, where he pleaded no contest. 

The exact nature of the threats is unclear, however Sheriff Dannels told DailyMail.com they were received ‘off social media.’ 

‘We have zero tolerance for any kind of threats or intents of violence, so we’ll find him. He’ll go to jail,’ Dannels said. 

‘He’s a registered sex offender here in Cochise County, and we were looking for him. He’s out of compliance as part of his violations. So we’re looking for him on that. 

‘We’re going to arrest him on that. But also the fact his pulse was obviously directed toward this event. So we want to talk to him about that.’ 

As Dannels added that security was being ramped up ahead of the speech, Secret Service snipers could be seen perched on a crane surveying the area. 

Records show that he was a registered Democrat in the past, and owns a long rap sheet dating back to 1990 – including a conviction in 2000 for second degree sexual assault of a child, where he pleaded no contest. 

The exact nature of the threats is unclear, however Sheriff Dannels told DailyMail.com they were received ‘off social media.’ 

‘We have zero tolerance for any kind of threats or intents of violence, so we’ll find him. He’ll go to jail,’ Dannels said. 

‘He’s a registered sex offender here in Cochise County, and we were looking for him. He’s out of compliance as part of his violations. So we’re looking for him on that. 

‘We’re going to arrest him on that. But also the fact his pulse was obviously directed toward this event. So we want to talk to him about that.’ 

As Dannels added that security was being ramped up ahead of the speech, Secret Service snipers could be seen perched on a crane surveying the area. 

The planned attempt on Trump’s life was allegedly intended for his trip to the border in Sierra Vista, in a spot where his campaign has already traveled to. 

Arizona officials said they believe Syvrud is at large in the border region, and are urgently attempting to locate him ahead of Trump’s visit. 

Ahead of his trip to the area, Trump said on Truth Social on Wednesday that he would be addressing ‘the plague of migrant crime that so-called Border Czar, comrade Kamala Harris has unleashed on America.’ 

Rather than the Secret Service or any other law enforcement it fell to Dailymail.com to inform Trump that the widely publicized manhunt was going on.

The Republican nominee delivered a speech on immigration in the desert next to the border and then took questions.

DailyMail.com’s correspondent asked him whether he felt he was in danger. 

Trump admitted he ‘hadn’t heard’ about the threat and said law enforcement probably ‘wanted to keep it’ from him.

With a chuckle he said: ‘Thank you for telling me. Let’s get out of here right now!’

He added: ‘And I have great respect for Secret Service, the job they do, including a month and a half ago, when they were jumping on top of me with bullets flying right at ’em.

‘So, mistakes were made, and they’re going to learn from the mistakes. But I have great respect. But, no, I haven’t heard that, but I’m not that surprised.

‘And the reason is because I want to do things that are very bad for the bad guys. So, I have heard, it’s very unsafe to make this trip. There were some people that really didn’t want me to make it.’

It comes nearly six weeks after Trump was nearly assassinated by a 20-year-old in Pennsylvania. 

Trump turned his head at the vital moment and only ended up with a bloody ear. He was hustled off stage by his Secret Service detail, but not before giving his supporters a clenched fist salute. 

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who shot Donald Trump, opened fire at the former president with an AR-style rifle from a roof 130 yards from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

A member of the crowd was killed in the deadly shooting, while two others who were wounded are in critical condition. All three are males, according to law enforcement officials.

Trump was left bloodied and hurt during the assassination attempt as he was seen to suddenly grab hold of his ear as loud bangs rang out and whizzed by before he ducked to the floor.

The Secret Service swarmed around the 45th US President as piercing screams were heard from the MAGA crowd.

He then got to his feet with blood pouring down his cheek and raised his fist in the air and defiantly shouted ‘fight’ while the audience shouted ‘USA’ as he was dragged off stage and bundled into a vehicle.

Secret Service agents could be heard shouting ‘the shooter is down’ in the ensuing chaos and the gunman was later confirmed dead.