DENVER—Court records show that federal investigators initially took seriously threats by suspected methamphetamine users to kill Barack Obama during the Democratic National Convention.
Tharin Gartrell was arrested in the Denver suburb of Aurora on Aug. 24, one day before the convention. Authorities say he was driving a truck containing rifles, a bulletproof vest, wigs and fake IDs, and that Gartrell and two acquaintances arrested that day—Shawn Robert Adolf and Nathan Johnson—had talked about killing Obama.
U.S. Attorney Troy Eid later said the men were drug users who made racist threats but had no firm assassination plot and no ability to carry one out. No one has been charged in relation to the alleged threats.
In an Aug. 25 search warrant affidavit for the truck and a hotel room where Gartrell, Adolf and Johnson were allegedly using drugs, FBI agent Robert Sawyer said Johnson told the Secret Service that Adolf wanted to kill Obama with a high-powered rifle during Obama’s presidential nomination acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High.
According to the document, first reported by KUSA-TV, Johnson also said Adolf and Gartrell wanted to kill Obama because he is black. Sawyer concluded there was probable cause to believe there could be a conspiracy to kill Obama.
A telephone message left for Gartrell’s lawyer late Wednesday wasn’t immediately returned. No lawyers have been listed in court documents as representing Johnson or Adolf.
FBI spokeswoman Kathy Wright said Wednesday the threats became less credible as investigators continued to question the suspects. Still, she said authorities wanted to make sure that those who might be trying to harm Obama were in custody.
“You have all this initial information that sounded very suspicious, very ominous,” Wright said. “Law enforcement was prepared and in place to address just this type of issue.”
Wright said it’s likely the men had weapons and the vest because of their alleged involvement in drug dealing.
All three are being held on federal drug and weapons charges.
According to the affidavit, a woman allegedly using drugs with the men, Kay Neb, said Adolf, Johnson and Gartrell made “racially disparaging” comments about Obama.
Neb was arrested for drug possession.
