There’s no reason to believe four people arrested with guns and ammunition in a hotel room a block away from the MLB All-Star Game festivities at Coors Field posed a threat to the weekend’s events, an FBI spokeswoman said in a statement Sunday.
Denver police seized more than a dozen guns and numerous rounds of ammunition from a room at The Maven Hotel at 1850 Wazee St., a source confirmed to the Denver Post on Sunday. The hotel is a block from Coors Field, where thousands of fans are expected this weekend ahead of Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game.
But there was no reason to believe the suspects posed a threat to the All-Star Game or were connected to terrorism, said Courtney Bernal, acting public affairs specialist with the Denver FBI office.
“We are not aware of any threat to the All-Star Game events, venues, players, or the community at this time,” she said in a statement.
Previously, law enforcement sources told Denver7 they feared a “Las Vegas-style shooting” because of the number of weapons and ammunition in the eighth-floor hotel room, as well as the vantage point from the room’s balcony, which would overlook potentially large crowds. One of the men who was arrested posted on Facebook about wanting to “go out in a big way,” according to Denver7, which cited anonymous police sources.
Denver police refused to disclose any additional details about the arrests Sunday, citing an ongoing investigation.
“We are working with our local and federal law enforcement partners on this investigation and continue to ask the public if they see something — say something,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.
A maid at the hotel noticed the weapons and the hotel alerted police, a source told the Denver Post. Officials on Sunday praised the quick action by both the employee and police.
Those arrested were Richard Platt, 42; Gabriel Rodriguez, 48; Ricardo Rodriguez, 44; and Kanoelehua Serikawa, 43. Police did not provide places of residence for the four, who are being held and investigated for alleged illegal possession of weapons and possession of controlled substances.
Platt’s criminal history in Colorado dates back to 1998, when he pleaded guilty to prohibited use of a weapon. It also includes felony convictions on weapons and drug charges, receiving stolen property, theft and assault, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
A woman who identified herself as his mother when reached by the Denver Post on Sunday said it would be out of character for Platt to plan a mass shooting.
“It’s absurd,” she said before hanging up.
Gabriel Rodriguez, 48, also has past felony drug convictions, as well as misdemeanor convictions that date back to 1993, according to CBI. It’s not clear whether he is related to Ricardo Rodriguez, 44, whose criminal history in the state begins in 1996 and includes a felony conviction for fraud and a misdemeanor drug conviction.
The sole woman who was arrested, Serikawa, has no criminal history in the state, according to CBI.
“We are grateful for the Coloradan who reported the suspicious activity, the swift action of law enforcement, and are fully supportive of Denver’s investigation,” Gov. Jared Polis spokesman Conor Cahill said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for The Maven Hotel said hotel staff could not speak to media because of the ongoing police investigation, but said in a statement that the hotel is working closely with police.
“We are incredibly proud that our team swiftly alerted the authorities in this instance,” said Kelly Bajorek, director of corporate communications for Sage Hospitality Group. “We are thankful to (the Denver Police Department) for their quick action to safely resolve this situation and will continue to work closely with them to support their investigation.”
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July 12, 2021 at 12:23AM
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FBI says arrests at hotel near Coors Field didn’t pose a threat to MLB All-Star Game activities - The Denver Post
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