Oregon man arrested for threats against Obama

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon man has been arrested for threatening to kill President Barack Obama and his family.

Darryl James Swanson made his first court appearance on Tuesday and was detained for a mental health evaluation. He did not enter a plea.

The U.S. Secret Service arrested the 45-year-old Portland man on Friday in connection with the threats.

Court documents show that Swanson admitted calling The Associated Press on May 2 and leaving a message using a racial epithet and saying he would seek weapons from al-Queda to shoot the president and his family.

The documents show that a Secret Service agent warned Swanson against threatening the president but he continued to leave messages with government and law enforcement agencies in Florida, Oregon and Washington.

A family friend says Swanson is “harmless.”