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Corals · July 5th, 2007, 05:06 PM

Man with knife arrested outside US presidential candidate Obama's hotel

The Associated Press
Thursday, July 5, 2007

DES MOINES, Iowa: A man with a large knife was arrested outside presidential hopeful Barack Obama's hotel in southeast Iowa, police said.

Davit Zakaryan, 24, was searched and apprehended Wednesday after Obama's security crew allegedly saw him loitering outside a Fairfield Inn in Ottumwa before the Democratic U.S. senator was about to leave for a busy day of campaigning.

Police said they did not know why Zakaryan was outside the hotel with the knife, and they cautioned against making any assumptions until he was questioned further.

"This is not an earth-shattering" arrest, Lt. Mike McDonough of the Ottumwa Police Department said. "He made no threats toward the senator."

Zakaryan was arrested after 8:30 a.m. and charged with possessing an illegal weapon and driving without a license. Police said the knife was longer than 8 inches (20 centimeters), which exceeds the state limit.

Zakaryan was being held Wednesday night at the Wapello County Jail on a $6,825 (€5,012) bond. He was to be arraigned Thursday morning.

A call to Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor was not immediately returned Wednesday night.

McDonough said Obama's security crew had been keeping an eye on Zakaryan because they thought his car looked familiar and may have been at another of Obama's campaign stops. After Zakaryan pulled the car near the hotel, the agents asked police to question him. That's when they found the knife inside the car, McDonough said.

McDonough said the identification card Zakaryan gave them showed he was from Ohio, several states away, but they were not sure whether the ID was valid.

Obama has spent much of his time campaigning in Iowa the past few months, trying to build support for the state's leadoff caucuses in January. In May, Secret Service announced it would provide protection for Obama while he was campaigning.
Man with knife arrested outside US presidential candidate Obama's hotel - International Herald Tribune
......................

Looks like that protection is needed afterall.

July 5th, 2007, 05:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
Corals Afro Resident Corals is offline Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 5,819 Thanks: 276 Thanked 297 Times in 237 Posts Rep Power: 80 Credits: 300,323	Man with knife arrested outside US presidential candidate Obama's hotel The Associated Press Thursday, July 5, 2007 DES MOINES, Iowa: A man with a large knife was arrested outside presidential hopeful Barack Obama's hotel in southeast Iowa, police said. Davit Zakaryan, 24, was searched and apprehended Wednesday after Obama's security crew allegedly saw him loitering outside a Fairfield Inn in Ottumwa before the Democratic U.S. senator was about to leave for a busy day of campaigning. Police said they did not know why Zakaryan was outside the hotel with the knife, and they cautioned against making any assumptions until he was questioned further. "This is not an earth-shattering" arrest, Lt. Mike McDonough of the Ottumwa Police Department said. "He made no threats toward the senator." Zakaryan was arrested after 8:30 a.m. and charged with possessing an illegal weapon and driving without a license. Police said the knife was longer than 8 inches (20 centimeters), which exceeds the state limit. Zakaryan was being held Wednesday night at the Wapello County Jail on a $6,825 (€5,012) bond. He was to be arraigned Thursday morning. A call to Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor was not immediately returned Wednesday night. McDonough said Obama's security crew had been keeping an eye on Zakaryan because they thought his car looked familiar and may have been at another of Obama's campaign stops. After Zakaryan pulled the car near the hotel, the agents asked police to question him. That's when they found the knife inside the car, McDonough said. McDonough said the identification card Zakaryan gave them showed he was from Ohio, several states away, but they were not sure whether the ID was valid. Obama has spent much of his time campaigning in Iowa the past few months, trying to build support for the state's leadoff caucuses in January. In May, Secret Service announced it would provide protection for Obama while he was campaigning. Man with knife arrested outside US presidential candidate Obama's hotel - International Herald Tribune ...................... Looks like that protection is needed afterall. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 'It's hard being QUEEN of the entire universe' :worship: