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Four people were arrested for smuggling drugs and illegal weapons at a downtown Denver hotel near Coors Field, but the FBI said it had “no reason to believe” the suspects were a threat to the next Major League Baseball All-Star game.
Three men and a woman in their 40s were arrested Friday night after a “suspicious event report” at the Maven Hotel, located one block from Coors Field. Officers who responded to a tip searched two hotel rooms, retrieved evidence and impounded two vehicles.
But despite the proximity to Coors Field and several other events held in conjunction with the All-Star Game, the FBI said in a statement on Sunday that the suspects were likely unrelated to terrorism.
“We have no reason to believe this incident was related to terrorism or a threat directed against the All-Star Game,” the FBI said. “We are not aware of any threats to the All-Star Game events, sites, players or community at this time.”
The Denver Police Department did not release details of the evidence, but the local ABC Denver7 affiliate, citing multiple law enforcement sources, reported on Saturday that police discovered 16 long guns, bullet proof vests and over 1,000 rounds in an eighth-floor hotel room that had a balcony overlooking downtown Denver.
Police executed search warrants for rooms after receiving a tip from a hotel maid, according to multiple reports.
Richard Platt, 42, Gabriel Rodriguez, 48, and Ricardo Rodriguez, 44, have all been arrested in connection with an investigation into possession of a weapon by a former offender. Platt and Gabriel Rodriguez also face charges of possession of a controlled substance with the intention of distributing it. Kanoelehua Serikawa, 43, was arrested in connection with an investigation for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute it.
Platt and Serikawa also have mandates from another jurisdiction.
“The investigation and arrests are the result of public advice, serving as a prime example of the vital role the community plays in public safety,” the Denver Police Department said in a statement Saturday night. “DPD encourages residents and visitors to always be aware of their surroundings and to immediately report any suspicious or illegal activity to the police. “
Coors Field is set to host the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, but the festivities related to the midseason event began last week. The Maven Hotel is located on Wazee Street in downtown Denver, in the city’s Ballpark neighborhood, which hosted a street festival called “Stars & Stripes Streetfest” which kicked off on July 2.
A spokeswoman for the Maven Hotel told the Denver Post that hotel staff are currently not authorized to speak to the media due to the ongoing investigation, but the hotel issued a statement on Sunday saying praise its employees. The housekeeper, according to multiple reports, informed hotel management when she saw the guns, and hotel staff contacted Denver Police.
“We are incredibly proud that our team promptly alerted authorities in this case,” said Kelly Bajorek, director of corporate communications for Sage Hospitality Group, in a statement obtained by mail. “We are grateful to [the Denver Police Department] for their swift action to safely resolve this situation and will continue to work closely with them to support their investigation. “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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