A man who claimed to be part of former President Donald Trump’s security detail and said he was on the way to the RNC was arrested in Lake County after police found him with body armor and loaded guns.
James A. Faber, 51, of Chicago, was charged with false personation of a peace officer, a Class 2 felony, and three counts of possession of a firearm with a revoked FOID, a Class 3 felony.
An Illinois State Police trooper was on patrol around 11:30 p.m. Monday on Interstate 94 near Wadsworth Road in Wadsworth.
He spotted a disabled vehicle, driven by Faber, on the shoulder of the interstate, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis.
The trooper asked Faber, who was outside of the car, if he needed assistance and Faber told him he had been there for hours.
Faber then said, “I need to get to Trump, I need to get to Trump,” according to Theis.
Faber said he was late and needed to get to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the Republican National Convention (RNC). The RNC was held days prior beginning on July 15 and ending on July 18.
Theis said Faber also told the trooper that he was in charge of former President Donald Trump’s security and that he was with the CIA.
Faber was unable to provide any documentation to the trooper, saying that it was classified and top secret.
The trooper asked Faber if he had any weapons and the man confirmed he had weapons in the car “due to working with the CIA,” Theis said.
Troopers learned Faber has a revoked Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card and concealed carry license were both revoked.
A search of the vehicle resulted in troopers finding four loaded guns, three body armor vests, five lasers, brass knuckles, flashlights and a badge belonging to a retired Cook County sheriff’s officer.
Faber admitted the weapons were his and said he knew his FOID was revoked, Theis said. The man also claimed he possessed the weapons because he works for the CIA.
Theis said Faber’s FOID and CCL were revoked due to a “clear and present danger” restraining order filed against him for previously impersonating a police officer and conducting a traffic stop on a civilian.
Theis said troopers reported the body armor found was very similar to the tactical gear used by police.
“This defendant had those weapons and tactical gear and was attempting to seek out the former president of the United States of America who had just been targeted in an attempted assassination,” Theis said in court arguing that Faber poses a danger to the community.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak agreed with prosecutors that Faber is a real and present threat.
The judge, calling the incident a “bizarre set of circumstances,” granted a petition to detain Faber in the Lake County Jail pending trial following a detention hearing Wednesday.
Faber became belligerent and yelled at the judge at the end of the hearing, saying he was “disappointed” in the judge and the court system, which led to officers escorting him out of the courtroom.
Faber is scheduled to appear in court again on August 20.