[media id=6128] [media id=6129] (h/t BillW) CBS4Denver: CBS4 has learned at least four people are under arrest in connection with a possible plot
August 25, 2008

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CBS4Denver:

CBS4 has 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."

The story began emerging Sunday morning when Aurora police arrested 28-year-old Tharin Gartrell. He was driving a rented pickup truck in an erratic manner according to sources.

Sources told CBS4 police found two high-powered, scoped rifles in the car along with camouflage clothing, walkie-talkies, wigs, a bulletproof vest, a spotting scope, licenses in the names of other people and 44 grams of methamphetamine. One of the rifles is listed as stolen from Kansas.

However, almost as quickly as news began to spread of this alleged assassination plot, the Feds came in and dismissed it.

Federal officials said verbal threats against Obama were made, but were not considered credible.

"This is a methamphetamine and firearms case that arose from a traffic stop made by an Aurora Police officer," said Paul Bresson, an FBI national spokesman assigned to the Democratic National Convention in Denver this week. "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."

"It could also turn out that these were nothing but a bunch of knuckleheads, meth heads," a U.S. government official said.

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