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Home › Politics

Politics | 08/26/2008 12:30 pm

Man Investigated for Obama Threat After Getting Busted With Rifles, Bullet-Proof Vest

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
Tharin Gartrell © AP

Even though Tharin Gartrell was found with rifles, ammunition and drugs and is being investigated for possible statements threatening Barack Obama, authorities say he was never a credible threat to the candidate in Denver this week.

The Associated Press reports that authorities are investigating Gartrell, who was stopped in Aurora at 1:30 AM Sunday after police saw him swerving in his truck. Gartrell, the 28-year-old driver, had a suspended driver’s license, and the truck was rented in someone else’s name. Police found two rifles - including one with a scope - a bulletproof vest, boxes of ammunition, walkie-talkies and suspected narcotics, an Aurora police spokesman said. The local police then contacted federal authorities.

Federal and local authorities scheduled a news conference for Tuesday afternoon.

"We’re absolutely confident there is no credible threat to the candidate, the Democratic National Convention or the people of Colorado," U.S. Attorney Troy Eid said.

Two other suspects were also arrested, The Rocky Mountain News reports. Nathan Johnson, 32, is being held on drug charges in Denver after police arrested him following Gartrell’s apprehension. Shawn Robert Adolf, 33, was arrested around 5 AM Sunday after he jumped from a sixth-floor window while running from police. He is being held on seven outstanding warrants. 

Aurora police didn’t specify what tied the three men together but said more arrests were possible. The Secret Service, federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office are investigating.

Read more about: Barack Obama, convention, News, Politics, Tharin Gartrell, U.S.

8 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Frank Peterson
Crazies with guns—let’s hear it NRA.
By Frank Peterson on 08/26/2008 12:15 pm
kermie b
Thank goodness these men were caught. But I am sure there are others out there with the same agenda. That prospect is horrifying.
By kermie b on 08/26/2008 1:13 pm
Diana T
There’s a whole bunch of us worried about him in the south. Sorry, southerners, but you know where and who I am referring to. I’m not surprised; I once had a secret service man tell me that whenever and whereever the president, VP, queen, etc. are…there is always someone ready to kill them. Sad but true.
By Diana T on 08/26/2008 3:13 pm
Jeannot Kensinger
Diana, I have the same concerns here and you know where I live. Besides that it is a Republican town. My son told me not to put an Obama sign on the lawn as people have had graffiti put on their houses. So…we shall paint over it if it happens. A sign will go up.
By Jeannot Kensinger on 08/27/2008 8:29 am
Diana T
JMK, My sign will go up too. I’m not about to give in to a bunch of bigots. And, I’ll tell you something else. It’s not just the poor and down and out. There is always that veiled silence of some very prominent people…I got to say it……some of the “country club” types around here whose lives are so “perfect” that they want to keep the status quo. And, I have point blank heard them say they don’t think they could have a black president; and they don’t give a reason. I just can’t handle that kind of thinking. I remember back in the 50/60’s when the race riots were on the evening news every night. I remember seeing those lovely African-American girls being taken into the school with these awful whites screaming at them. Out of the blue, mother said, “What would you think if I was in that crowd? Wouldn’t you feel ashamed of me?” That made such an impression to this then-teenager. I think back to those days when de-segregation, demostration parades, riots, etc. were watched by all of us on TV every night, and to this day, I have never understood why one group thinks another group shouldn’t have the same advantages that I do.
By Diana T on 08/27/2008 10:07 am
EKA -
Diana, It’s not just in the south. A friend who is a hospice volunteer was having a conversation with an elderly patient who said, no lie, “we can’t let those people get the upper hand” when asked about Obama. The only good news up here in new England is that we have slightly fewer guns. Can you believe I’ve never seen a gun in real life ? I worry about Obama every day, I would hate to see a new generation go through JFK, Martin & Bobby.
By EKA - on 08/27/2008 12:51 pm
Juanita Ward
You know Diana, it is very awful, that things like this still happen. It seem when someone wants to help, there are those like, you said ready, to do harm. But it is funny it is always someone that is in need, look at his profile. Driving without up dated lic. rented truck in someone other then is name. That is telling you something, you may not want to say it , but it is true.
By Juanita Ward on 08/26/2008 11:55 pm
Diana T
Juanita, It often appears as thought it’s always someone in need, but if you read your history,very often they were put up to it. Manipulation is a weapon also.
By Diana T on 08/27/2008 2:53 pm