(This article has been updated to include more information.)

A man arrested by deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for allegedly possessing firearms unlawfully near a rally for former President Donald Trump is suing Sheriff Chad Bianco.

Vem Miller, a Las Vegas resident, claims in his lawsuit that Bianco falsely accused him of being a threat and insinuating that he might have intended to harm Trump.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court on Tuesday, alleges that Bianco made these misleading statements during various media appearances to portray himself as a “heroic sheriff” who thwarted a potential assassination attempt on Trump.

According to Miller, “The defendants knowingly and with complete disregard for Miller’s constitutional rights used the media to create a false narrative and unlawfully shared this information to humiliate him and ruin his career.” The lawsuit also includes Riverside County, an unnamed deputy referred to as “Deputy Coronado,” and ten unidentified staff members of the sheriff’s office. Coronado is noted as the deputy who conducted what Miller describes as “an unlawful and unconstitutional search” of his vehicle after Miller disclosed the presence of firearms during a parking lot checkpoint near the rally. Miller insists that he intended to keep the firearms secured in his vehicle without intending to cause harm.

The lawsuit argues, “Evidence will show that the officers were trained to act in this manner and, thus, were trained to do precisely the wrong thing. Had they been adequately educated on basic search and seizure laws and privacy protections, this incident would not have occurred.”

On Wednesday, a spokesperson from the sheriff’s department’s Media Information Bureau acknowledged the lawsuit, stating that they “take such matters seriously,” but refrained from discussing specifics due to ongoing litigation.

They added, “We are dedicated to transparency and will fully cooperate with the legal process. Our priority is the safety and well-being of the community we serve. We appreciate your understanding as we handle this situation.”

Bianco did not immediately respond to a request for comments from The Desert Sun.

Miller’s lawsuit encompasses multiple claims, including failure to train, defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It has been filed in U.S. District Court in Nevada, seeking both compensatory and punitive damages, the firing of Coronado, a judicial ruling confirming violations of Miller’s rights, and a directive for the sheriff’s department to adopt enhanced training, policies, accountability measures, and hiring procedures.

Two men who are both supporters of Trump

The complaint claims that Miller was confined in a patrol car for several hours without being allowed to use the restroom upon request.

Ultimately, he was taken to a sheriff’s station in Thermal for questioning by Secret Service and FBI agents but was later moved to an Indio jail about 25 minutes later after the federal agents opted not to interrogate him.

The lawsuit states, “Despite being informed by both the United States Secret Service and the FBI that Miller was not considered a threat and that they declined to interview him, Sheriff Bianco continued to make outrageous claims against Miller, holding press conferences that promoted his false narrative.”

Miller labels many of the allegations made by Bianco and the sheriff’s department during a Sunday press conference, including claims of possessing fake passports and membership in a “sovereign citizens group,” as “absurd.”

The lawsuit suggests a conflict between two strong Trump supporters. It mentions that Miller served as a captain for Trump’s caucus during the 2024 Nevada primaries and is a registered Republican who is part of the Central Committee of the Clark County Republican Party, which represents over 70% of Nevada’s population.

Bianco publicly endorsed Trump several months back, stating it was time to “put a felon in the White House” in a controversial video while in his sheriff’s uniform shared on social media. He also addressed the crowd at Saturday’s rally, claiming that the upcoming election hinged on “the fate of the free world, balancing personal freedoms against socialism,” and called Trump “the only candidate for president capable of ensuring public safety and protecting the Constitution.”

Miller’s lawsuit identifies the two firearms in his vehicle as a Glock 19 handgun and a shotgun. He was arrested on suspicion of unlawfully carrying a firearm in public and possessing a large-capacity magazine, both misdemeanors. He was not charged with conspiracy to commit murder or similar offenses. During a Sunday press conference, Bianco suggested his deputies may have prevented a shooting against Trump.

He stated, “If you’re asking me, I would say my deputies likely stopped a third assassination attempt.”

The lawsuit claims that Bianco’s statement was untrue, as the Secret Service and FBI had informed him that they did not consider Miller to be a threat.

“Rather than apologizing to Miller for the untrue allegations leveled against him, Defendant Bianco exacerbated the misconduct of the Defendants by continuing to promote a loud and irrational narrative that has inflicted significant damage to Miller’s reputation and character,” the lawsuit states. “Defendant Bianco’s actions of holding numerous press conferences that furthered a false storyline about Miller remain shocking and surpass the limits of what is acceptable.”