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Authorities Probe Possible Obama Threat
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ShareAugust 25, 2008 9:48 PM
ABC News' Jason Ryan, Richard Esposito, Pierre Thomas, Jack Date, Mary Compton and Theresa Cook Report: Federal and local authorities in Colorado are questioning several suspects to determine if one of the men made a threat against Sen. Barack Obama, who will be in Denver this week to accept the Democratic presidential nomination.
After pulling over Tharin Robert Gartrell, 28, for allegedly driving erratically early Sunday morning, police discovered two rifles, one of which is reportedly stolen, a scope, a bulletproof vest, ammunition, walkie-talkies and the drug methamphetamine in the rented 2008 Dodge Ram truck, Aurora Police Detective Marcus Dudley said at a Monday evening press conference.
When authorities questioned Gartrell about the findings, he pointed to an associate of his whom he claimed made a threat against Obama, officials told ABC News.
According to law enforcement sources in Denver, a witness interviewed in the case told investigators that one of suspects allegedly said the guns were to be used to kill the Illinois senator, but authorities do not believe the alleged threat put Obama in immediate danger.
At approximately 4:30 a.m. Sunday, police arrived at a Glendale, Colo. hotel to question another suspect, who jumped from a sixth-floor window in an attempt to evade police. Medical personnel at a Denver area hospital treated him for a broken ankle.
Police arrested both Nathan Johnson, 32, and Shawn Robert Adolph, 33, in connection with the investigation. All three men are in the custody of law enforcement authorities, and all have criminal records, officers said at the press conference.
Authorities told ABC News the men had tattoos of white supremacist images.
State, local and federal investigators are working together to decide which charges they will file against the men. Federal authorities scheduled a Tuesday press conference, and noted that prosecutors anticipate filing federal charges as part of the case.
"This is a methamphetamine and firearms case that arose from a traffic stop made by an Aurora Police officer," a spokesman for the joint law enforcement information center told ABC News. "Firearms and methamphetamines 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."
The Obama campaign declined to comment on the situation.
The incident comes on the heels of an alleged threat against Obama's rival, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Last Friday, prosectuors charged an inmate at the Arapahoe County, Colo. jail for allegedly mailing a threatening letter laced with powder to the McCain's Denver campaign office. Investigators later determined that the suspicious powder was not toxic.
ABC News' Sunlen Miller contributed to this report.
August 25, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (142)
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I thought they were investigating the threat Obama is to the nation.
Your topics are so deceiving sometimes.
Posted by: seah | Aug 25, 2008 10:08:44 PM
Great work by the police and other agencies. Thank God these people were caught!
Posted by: Roberto | Aug 25, 2008 10:33:16 PM
he has been sent i would bet by bush and his nazi buddies.
Posted by: tom | Aug 25, 2008 10:34:06 PM
But I thought everything was honky-dory between Blacks and Whites. I mean that's what Faux news has been telling me...
Posted by: Shug | Aug 25, 2008 10:34:16 PM
Seah - You are SO funny. Don't quit your day job... that is, if you have one.
Posted by: Scott | Aug 25, 2008 10:39:41 PM
If true, what a bunch of dumb smucks......why shoot the idiot? He is on his way out the door.
Posted by: chattyway | Aug 25, 2008 10:41:27 PM
is it just me or has Colorado become a hot bed of extremism in our country? From liberal communist teachers to freaks like this?
Colorado used to be such a nice state. Heck, the whole southwest was once nice until California exported it's brand of activist liberalism.
Posted by: OrwellsPig | Aug 25, 2008 10:42:07 PM
I am absolutely SHOCKED that someone who is so ultra liberal as Barrack Hussein Obama, who is friends with the Weather Underground terrorist and endorsed by Hamas and Louis Farakhan is a target. What is our world coming to?!!
Posted by: S Adams | Aug 25, 2008 10:48:01 PM
OrwellsPig - "Heck, the whole southwest was once nice until California exported it's brand of activist liberalism." - Now THAT's an interesting theory. I'm sure that a bunch of liberal activist were banding together to shoot Senator Obama. Or, maybe, it's a bunch of loser drug dealers.....nahhhh.
Posted by: jmengate | Aug 25, 2008 10:48:01 PM
Yes all the liberals, marxists, socialists, and other extremists in one place for the Hate America Convention in Denver.
Posted by: Norman | Aug 25, 2008 10:50:58 PM
It's funny how demented meth heads tend so strongly to be Republican, isn't it?
Posted by: JP | Aug 25, 2008 10:52:36 PM
orwellspig---the people taht are teh problem in this nation are the neo nazi republicans.with there racism hate violence they are a bunch of gun toteing in breed losers and super rich crooks.
Posted by: tom | Aug 25, 2008 10:53:01 PM
You would think with all the baggage and hatred for the USA the delegates would wise up a chose spome one that could win in November, who wants someone that will change the flag , change the national anthem and destroy the Bible. all for hatred of the USA which he and his wife admitted to in the past
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Aug 25, 2008 11:00:34 PM
Tom,
At least we can spell and speak properly when we shoot our guns while having sex with our millionaire skinhead brothers.
Posted by: S Adams | Aug 25, 2008 11:04:42 PM
These guys pulled over were about as dangerous as other Obama friends and supporters as found in South Chicago. Obama is the one to be afraid of. He does not want the truth to be known.
Posted by: Mary | Aug 25, 2008 11:05:46 PM
s adams--- wow! hit a nerve? i know i type so fast sometimes i turn around letters, i am typeing and responding to 8 different sites at once.
Posted by: tom | Aug 25, 2008 11:09:56 PM
Wow, I checked out the CBS4 website in Denver. That Tharin Gartrell dude looks like a (more) pissed off version of Vanilla Ice. I've been worried about this type of thing since Barack's campaign started. I think the authorities should see if any of these losers were in Sturgis at the after party that John and Cindy hosted. This is serious stuff, folks.
Posted by: Blain S. Stevens | Aug 25, 2008 11:14:43 PM
No Tom, I thought what you said was funny and was using sarcasm, Man you liberals have no sense of humor.
Posted by: S Adams | Aug 25, 2008 11:18:00 PM
JP, You got it wrong, OBAMA is the one who smoked crack. Get your facts straight.
Posted by: S Adams | Aug 25, 2008 11:24:01 PM
s adams --- um yes we do but that wasnt funny.. most comedians are democrats(except the blue collar red necks which are funny) but the jokes mccain tells are not funny just stupid racism sexism and eliteism.
Posted by: tom | Aug 25, 2008 11:26:24 PM
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