OFFICIALS PROMISE DENVER SAFE AFTER GUN RAID IN LODO

Two days after arresting four people at a hotel near Coors Field, the FBI said Sunday that the All-Star Game in Denver was not at risk of a terrorist attack. Denver police allege drugs and guns were found in the suspects’ room at LoDo’s Maven Hotel, a block from the stadium. The FBI statement followed a Denver Channel 7 report that 16 rifles, body armor and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition were found in the eighth-floor room with a balcony, stoking fears of an attack like the 2017 Las Vegas massacre.

The FBI does not believe the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Denver was at risk after four heavily armed people were arrested at a hotel near Coors Field on Friday, the agency said in a statement Sunday morning.

The Denver Police Department alleges that three men and one woman were found with drugs and guns in a room at the Maven Hotel at 1850 Wazee St. The hotel is one block from Coors Field, the venue for the game on Tuesday and several events Sunday and Monday.

“We have no reason to believe this incident was connected to terrorism or a threat directed at the All-Star Game,” the FBI’s statement read. “We are not aware of any threat to the All-Star Game events, venues, players or the community at this time.”

Denver Chief of Police Paul Pazen declined to comment on whether the suspects had planned an attack, saying it will be part of the department’s ongoing investigation.

The FBI statement comes after Denver Channel 7 reported that 16 rifles, body armor and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition were discovered in a room on the eighth floor of the hotel, with a balcony overlooking the downtown area.

The report said anonymous law enforcement sources feared a “Las Vegas-style shooting” during the All-Star Game, referring to the 2017 mass shooting in which a man opened fire on a musical festival from his nearby hotel room. Sixty people died and hundreds were wounded in the shooting.

The report also claimed one of the arrested suspects had posted on Facebook that he was going to “go out in a big way” after a recent divorce.

Police said a hotel employee contacted authorities to report suspicious activity Friday, leading officers to the hotel, where they arrested four suspects, obtained evidence in two hotel rooms and impounded two vehicles.

“We are incredibly proud that our team swiftly alerted the authorities in this instance,” the Maven Hotel said in a statement Sunday. “We are thankful to DPD for their quick action to safely resolve this situation and will continue to work closely with them to support their investigation.”

The suspects are 42-year-old Richard Platt, 48-year-old Gabriel Rodriguez, 44-year-old Ricardo Rodriguez and 43-year-old Kanoelehua Serikawa, according to police.

Allegations against the four include possession of a weapon by a previous offender, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and warrants from other jurisdictions, police said.

A former Longmont resident, Platt was evicted from a Boulder apartment in April after not paying his rent for more than six months, court records show. According to a March 12 court filing, he hadn’t paid the landlord after his lease expired on July 31 last year and continued to live in the apartment. He owed more than $11,000 in rent and

fees by the time of the filing.

On April 2, a judge ordered the Boulder County sheriff to remove Platt from the property. According to records from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Platt has had dozens of arrests since 1998, including on drugs, domestic violence and weapons charges. His most recent arrest before last week was in September 2020 by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for contempt of court, records show.

The CBI’s record of his arrests shows charges against him often were dropped.

According to public records, Gabriel Rodriguez of Brighton was found guilty of possession of marijuana and attempted possession of a controlled substance in Texas. Ricardo Rodriguez, whose most recent address is in Idaho, was found guilty of felony drug possession three times in Nevada. Serikawa, a Longmont resident, has only faced traffic-related charges, including driving under the influence.

The FBI Denver Division said it is coordinating with the police department regarding its investigation.

During a press conference Sunday afternoon, city officials insisted there is no ongoing threat related to the situation and that Denver’s All-Star Game and preceding events will be safe.

“The situation is under control,” said Mayor Michael Hancock. “I want to encourage everyone to come downtown and continue to enjoy these festivities.”

The All-Star Game is still scheduled to take place Tuesday, and officials are not engaging in any conversations to postpone it, Hancock said.

“We recognize the community concern,” Pazen said. “We have a very detailed and comprehensive plan to ensure the safety of our community members. What we saw take place on (Friday) was the system working.”

Pazen encouraged community members to always be aware of their surroundings and report anything suspicious they might witness.

Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 9137867. Suspicious or illegal activity should be reported to 911 for emergencies or (720) 913-2000 for non-emergencies.