Joshua Runkles is a 42-year-old man from Idaho, known primarily for a high- profile arrest in September 2025.

Incident Background

On September 20, 2025, Joshua Runkles was detained by Secret Service agents at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, ahead of a memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He entered the venue before security perimeters were fully established, sparking concerns due to his armed status and suspicious behavior. Runkles was reportedly providing private security for an influencer attending the event, which drew Trump administration figures like President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and others.

What He Carried

  • Weapons : A gun and a knife, prohibited in the stadium.
  • Credentials : An Idaho law enforcement ID as a "sworn commissioned reserve peace officer" and a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office badge, both described as inactive or expired.

When confronted by Arizona Department of Public Safety, he admitted to being armed and initially claimed ties to the Secret Service.

Charges and Outcome

Runkles faced charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place. He was booked into Maricopa County Jail but released on bond shortly after. Authorities confirmed he was not active law enforcement.

Professional Background

Limited details exist, but Runkles is described as a former deputy sheriff from Idaho. A LinkedIn profile matches (linkedin.com/in/runklesja), hinting at prior roles, though specifics are sparse. Public records and social media aggregators like IDCrawl and PeekYou list multiple Joshua Runkles profiles, including YouTube and Instagram, but none clearly tie to this individual beyond name matches.

Online Buzz and Context

The story trended amid the emotional Charlie Kirk memorial, with forums like Reddit referencing a "Josh" in unrelated cyberbullying threads—possibly coincidental or linked via banned accounts. Trending angle : Coverage spiked on sites like Economic Times, Hindustan Times, CBS, and ABC News, focusing on security lapses post-Kirk's assassination. YouTube discussions questioned Turning Point USA's potential vouching for him.

"Runkles presented a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office badge and an Idaho law enforcement identification card."

No major updates since his release; as of January 2026, he remains a footnote in 2025's tense political security narratives.

TL;DR : Joshua Runkles, ex-Idaho deputy, got arrested at Charlie Kirk's 2025 memorial for sneaking in armed with fake cop creds while doing private security—released on bond, low public profile otherwise.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.