MAR-A-LAGO, Fla. (WFLA) — Former president Donald Trump met with the Martin County deputies who arrested the suspect in an apparent assassination attempt over the weekend in Florida.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said Trump contacted their agency to meet the deputies involved in arresting “would-be assassin” Ryan Wesley Routh.
Routh was arrested Sunday after Secret Service agents noticed a rifle poking out of the bushes at a golf course where Trump was playing, officials said.
The FBI said they believed Routh, who possessed a loaded SKS rifle, was in the area for 12 hours before being spotted.
“We view this as extremely serious and are determined to provide answers as to what led up to the events that took place,” said Jeff Veltri, FBI Special Agent In Charge, Miami Field Office.
Martin County deputies took Routh into custody on I-95 after he fled from the Trump International Golf Club. Body cam video released by the MCSO showed Routh surrendering to deputies with his shirt over his head.
Tuesday, Trump met with these same deputies, shaking their hands and saying he was “still here!”
According to WPTV, the deputies returned the gesture by giving the former president the handcuffs used to arrest Routh, which were signed by the law enforcement officers.
Routh is under investigation on federal gun charges, which include possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The State of Florida is also conducting a separate investigation into the case, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.