Stunning Arrests in Denver

UPDATE: The Denver Post reports that they will have a news conference on Tuesday.

MORE UPDATES BELOW MAIN STORY.


The local Denver CBS station is reporting that two arrests have been made in Aurora and Glendale, CO in connection with a possible assassination plot against Barack Obama.

Law enforcement authorities have arrested two men in connection with a possible assassination plot against Sen. Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention in Denver, CBS station KCNC-TV reported Monday.

Police in Aurora, Colo. made a routine traffic stop at 2:38 a.m. Sunday and arrested 28-year-old Tharin Gartrell, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office. Two rifles and methamphetamine were found in the rented pickup truck he was driving. Another law enforcement source says at least one of the rifles was a "sniper rifle".

A subsequent arrest was made at a Glendale hotel. When local police approached the door, the suspect jumped out his 6-story window. He was arrested and treated for a broken ankle.

At least one suspect alluded to targeting Obama. The ATF, Secret Service and FBI are investigating.

From CBS4 in Denver (h/t GregMitch):

CBS4 has now learned at least four people are under arrest in connection with a possible plot to kill Barack Obama at his Thursday night acceptance speech in Denver. All are being held on either drug or weapons charges.

CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass reported one of the suspects told authorities they were "going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using a ... rifle ... sighted at 750 yards."

Law enforcement sources tell Maass that one of the suspects "was directly asked if they had come to Denver to kill Obama. He responded in the affirmative."

TMZ.com has a mugshot.