Man arrested outside Obama's Chicago home

[sabra]

Source: Chicago Trib/AP

CHICAGO - Police are questioning a man who was arrested near Barack Obama's house after he approached security barriers posted with no-access signs around the South Side Chicago home.

Chicago police spokesman Daniel O'Brien says the man hasn't been charged.

O'Brien says the man was arrested about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. He says the man wasn't armed and no one was injured.

The police spokesman couldn't provide other details, including exactly what prompted the arrest or whether the Democratic presidential candidate or his family was home at the time.


Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-obamahome-arrest,0,4223238.story

[gateley]

1. Hopefully just an over-zealous Obama supporter.

Isn't Obama's home under heavy security? (Well, maybe not so much if he's not there...)

[sabra]

2. 24-7 Secret Service protection - whether he is there or not...

[gateley]

3. Well, then regardless of whether it was an Obama supporter or someone

wishing him harm, the person was STUPID to try to get close. Did he think the SS wouldn't take action? :crazy:

[frazzled]

4. Heavy security isn't even the word for it: more like demilitarized zone

We've driven there fairly frequently, right down the street and in front of the house. No problem. Now, not so much. We were coming back from Michigan from a day of canvasing this weekend, dropping one of our crew off at his apt. in Hyde Park, and the other two canvassers in our car expressed an interest in driving past the Obama house, which they hadn't done before. Concrete barriers blocked off not only Greenwood Ave. but the streets around, and cop cars (Chicago Police) were barring the street entrances, blue lights flashing. Apparently, people who live there can't even park/drive on their street anymore.

We were gobsmacked. I am wondering if there was a serious security threat being responded to.

[ramapo]

7. I was there convention time.

Well the neighbors sure don't have to worry about crime, this is now the safest neighborhood in all Chicago, never mind Hyde Park/Southside.

The day before Obama officially claimed the nomination (this was Wednesday), his street was open. There were some crowd control fences along 51st St. (not in use) and it looked like somebody was in a SUV in the driveway keeping watch. I biked all around his block.

The next day the street was still open but there was much activity. I was again biking around the neighborhood. I really wanted to take a picture but figured I'd wind up causing myself trouble if I did that.

On Friday, his street was barricaded at both ends with the concrete dividers and police were at each end. There was one of those portable message board signs on 51st down by the Metra saying that trucks were banned, although there was obviously no enforcement of that yet. You could still bike around the side streets. It was amazing the increase in security just overnight.

I wonder what'll happen there when he wins?

My son lives just a few blocks away. It is a very normal neighborhood.

[izquierdista]

8. He's got to get elected first

Then he can tell the SS and Gestapo to stand down.

[vendredi]

5. Surprised

I'm surprised we haven't seen more of this, honestly. God save Barack - be safe.

[City Lights]

6. Updated story - man had gun and bulletproof vest in car:

Man held for approaching Sen. Obama's Kenwood home with gun, bulletproof vest

September 23, 2008

BY ANNIE SWEENEY AND FRANK MAIN Staff Reporters

Charges are pending against a man who drove up to the security perimeter around Sen. Barack Obama’s home in Kenwood with a gun on the floor of his car this morning, police said.

The man also had a bulletproof vest in the car, sources said.

The man, in his 30s, was stopped by a Chicago Police officer assigned to the U.S. Secret Service security detail at about 5 a.m. today, Chicago Police said. He had a rambling conversation with the officer who stopped him.

After being told to leave the area, the man drove away but he returned. The officer then searched his car and recovered a handgun, police said.

Secret Service spokesman Malcolm Wiley said the man “did not breach any security perimeters” and was a block away from the senator's home. The man did not direct any threats toward Obama, nor did he “utter any threatening language,” Wiley said.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1179640,obamahome092308.article

[BreweryYardRat]

9. Oy. The freaks are crawling out of the woodwork.

Can they charge him and hold him without bail until after the election, or would that be illegal?

[uppityperson]

10. Bit more from the story....

Sources said the man inquired about getting a job, spoke about how he was a victim of crime and discussed how he was happy that an African-American was running for president. The man, a convicted felon, is African-American.

[City Lights]

11. Only one paragraph left:

There are “Do Not Enter” and “Authorized Personnel Only” signs posted around that security area, a Chicago Police spokesman said. The outer security perimeter is manned by the Secret Service and Chicago police, Wiley said.

That covers the entire Sun-Times article. ;-)

[uppityperson]

16. well, there we are!

[chill_wind]

20. So...whatever became of THESE guys with the guns, vests and the

racist rants?

http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=8906141

[maddezmom]

12. Man arrested near Obama's home charged

September 23, 2008

The man arrested near Sen. Barack Obama's home with a gun in his car has been charged with trespassing and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, police said.


Omhari L. Sengstacke (right) approached the security perimeter of Obama's residence, which is about a block from his Kenwood neighborhood home, at about 5 a.m. and was stopped by a Chicago police officer assigned to the U.S. Secret Service security detail, police said.

Sengstacke, 31, of the 3400 block of South Prairie Avenue, drove up in his vehicle and got out of the car, and "appeared to be intoxicated," she police spokeswoman Monique Bond. The officer spoke with the man, who then left and returned shortly, she said. The officer questioned the man again, and then found a weapon in his vehicle, she said. Sengstacke did not threaten Obama, she said.

According to a source, police also found a bullet-proof vest in the vehicle. The source said the man also talked about wanting to get a job.

more:http://www.wgntv.com/landing/?none=1&blockID=65348&feedID=209

[ramapo]

14. Barack lives in an area where many people have serious problems

His immediate neighborhood is quite nice but just a few blocks away, it is a whole different story.

[Hekate]

13. I 'm GLAD the SS is there, though sorry for the neighbors. Michelle and the girls are at home...

... so even if Senator O is not in residence, this is still necessary.

I hope that all those assigned to Obama and his family take their jobs with the utmost seriousness, and that there are plenty of them. I want this man to live a LONG life.

Hekate

[Frndlychap]

15. Why was he wearing a bullet-proof vest?

I found it very strange that a civilian would walk around with a bullet-proof vest AND a gun near a popular presidential candidate. I think the FBI should dig very deep into this incident.

[uppityperson]

17. Odd, someone must have noticed something about you. k&rec OP

[JonLP24]

19. If he did have intentions of harming Obama

I couldn't picture it as a black man doing the damage as this guy in the article is. I'd figure it probaly be a racist, plotting to kill Obama.

[benEzra]

21. Not just any civilian, a felon at that.

Under Federal law, anyone with a felony conviction cannot so much as touch a gun or a single round of ammunition, under penalty of severe prison time.

[intheflow]

22. He wasn't walking around with a bulletproof vest and hand gun.

The vest and gun were in his car. I'll bet that's not uncommon in some areas of Chicago. Plus, one of the articles cited in this thread said the guy only lived a few blocks away and appeared intoxicated. He could have been Joe Average Idiot, fucked up and in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Dover]

18. I read a headline earlier that said a man was outside his church.

same story?