GRANDVILLE, MI – Denied entry at a rally in West Michigan for former President Donald Trump, a man told police at the political event that he had explosives and then led them on a chase.
Once he stopped his vehicle, the man threw bags of fertilizer on the ground hoping officers would believe it was a form of an explosive, police said in the arrest warrant document.
That man, 65-year-old Steven William Nauta, now faces felony charges in connection to his alleged threats.
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The incident happened Friday, Sept. 27, outside Trump’s rally at FALK Production, a metal panel manufacturer in Walker. Roughly 1,500 people attended the rally.
Nauta, of Sand Lake, a village in Kent County, approached a traffic point at the Trump event and was denied entrance, Walker police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause. Police said Nauta held up a bottle and said it was C4 explosives. Nauta told officers it was the “real deal,” the affidavit reads.
After the encounter, Nauta drove past the traffic point while disobeying officers’ commands. A pursuit ensued.
When Nauta finally stopped, he removed bags of fertilizer from his vehicle and threw them on the ground to make it appear that they were explosives, the affidavit states.
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Nauta appeared for a virtual arraignment Monday, Sept. 30, in Grandville District Court. He was charged with false report or threat of terrorism; explosives – possession of bombs with unlawful intent; third-degree fleeing and eluding; and resisting a police officer.
Throughout most of the hearing, Nauta looked down toward the ground in his holding cell. He tossed up two middle fingers at one point and was shirtless by the end of the hearing.
Judge Nicholas Christensen set bond at $1 million, to which Nauta said he preferred to be incarcerated.
“It’s a very cruel world out there,” Nauta said.
If Nauta posts bond, he is not allowed to possess any firearms or bomb-making equipment – including fertilizer. He is scheduled to appear in court next on Oct. 8 for a probable cause conference.
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