Ronald Lee Syvrud, 66, was taken into custody by Arizona law enforcement on August 22, 2024, for allegedly issuing death threats to former President Donald Trump via social media. Syvrud, a resident of Benson, Arizona, was arrested during a traffic stop after the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office initiated a manhunt.
Syvrud’s arrest coincided with Trump’s visit to Cochise County, where he was scheduled to give a speech near the U.S.-Mexico border as part of his 2024 campaign. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office reported that Syvrud had been posting threats against Trump on social media during the previous week. Details of the threats were not disclosed, but officials stated that they were taken seriously as part of their policy of zero tolerance towards threats against public figures.
Before his arrest, Syvrud had been evading the authorities and had multiple charges pending in Arizona and Wisconsin. These included driving under the influence, failure to appear in court, hit-and-run, and failure to register as a sex offender. The Sheriff’s office identified Syvrud as an “investigative lead for threats to kill a presidential candidate,” and his apprehension became a priority before Trump’s visit to the border.
Officials initially attempted to locate Syvrud at his residence on Wednesday evening, but he was not found. The search continued into Thursday morning, resulting in his arrest without any incident.
Due to the perceived threat, security measures were significantly heightened for Trump’s event, with increased presence of Secret Service personnel and local law enforcement. This came in the wake of the recent assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania, from which Trump narrowly escaped harm.
Trump was not made aware of the specifics of the Syvrud case before his arrival but acknowledged that receiving threats has become a routine part of his life.
Syvrud is currently in custody, facing multiple charges including threatening a presidential candidate. He will face court for his previous charges that span across multiple states. This incident is indicative of a larger trend of threats lodged against high-profile political figures during the 2024 election.