Sometimes, political conventions make for strange bedfellows.
Case in point: at 2:38 a.m. on Sunday, police in Aurora, a suburb of Denver, made what they believed to be a routine traffic stop. In the car: methamphetamine—and two rifles (one of which was apparently a "sniper rifle.") Not so routine. According to CBS4 News, the first arrest led the authorities, who believed they had stumbled upon an "assassination plot," to a second man staying at a nearby hotel. When they knocked on the man's door, he reportedly "jumped out
of his sixth-floor window, land[ed] on an awning and [ran] from the
scene." When the cops found him nearby with a broken ankle, they arrested him, too. According CBS4, "one of the officers who was briefed says he was told at least one of the suspects made statements to that effect" that the pair was planning to assassinate Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
The hotel where the pair of would-be assassins' was staying: the Cherry Creek Hotel at 600 South Colorado Boulevard in Glendale.
The hotel where NEWSWEEK's entire convention team is staying: the Cherry Creek Hotel at 600 South Colorado Boulevard in Glendale.
Apparently, crack NEWSWEEK investigative reporter Mark Hosenball actually spied a couple of FBI agents lurking around the premises late last night. He's looking into the matter now, and we'll report back as soon as he hears more.
In the meantime, sweet dreams, fellow Newsweekers.
UPDATE, 11:03 p.m.: Here's more from Hosenball:
Monday evening, the U. S. Attorney's office in Denver issued the
following statement confirming an unspecified number of arrests. "This
is a methamphetamine and firearms case that arose from a traffic stop
made by an Aurora Police officer," the statement read. "Firearms and
methamphetamine were seized, and a number of individuals are in state
custody. The matter continues to be under investigation. We'll provide
more information as it becomes available." A law enforcement source
said that prosecutors plan to file federal drug and gun charges against
the suspects on Tuesday.
Wednesday evening, the FBI
confirmed the identity of one of the suspects: Tharin Robert Gartrell.
A source familiar with the investigation said that Gartrell and the
other two suspects were believed to be white supremacists. The real
question now is whether the men were in position to carry out any kind
of threats against the candidate—or whether they were trying to impress
girlfriends, the source said. The Obama campaign declined comment,
referring reporters to the U.S. attorney's statement.
Read the rest here.
