Investigates

Behind The Story: 'Gitmo On The Platte' Discovered

Written By Rick Sallinger

Editor's Note: CBS4 Investigator Rick Sallinger shares the behind-the-scenes story that led him to a worldwide exclusive when he broke news of the city of Denver's warehouse detention facility, built in case their were mass arrests during the DNC.

It was 2 weeks before Denver would host one of its most prominent events ever, the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

For months the American Civil Liberties Union and protest group leaders had been in discussions with the city about demonstrations, parade routes and arrest procedures. But behind the public debate a construction project was secretly underway.

A long time contact called me with a tip. This person had just learned that the city was building a "detention center" for mass arrests during the convention.

I quickly made a couple of calls that got me nowhere. It was late in the day so I decided to try again in the morning.

Our source was able to provide only a general location "near the Coca Cola bottling plant." My news photographer and I decided to go looking.

We got to 38th Avenue and York Street and I remembered some old warehouses were back behind the buildings along the street. So we drove into the back and spotted a Denver Sheriff's vehicle.

"I think we're getting warm," I told my photographer.

We then noticed an open door. Inside we could see chain link fences. I got out of the car and quickly peeked in the warehouse. There were cage-like cells topped with razor wire. It was clearly what we had come looking for, now how to get the video?

A quick call to our CBS attorney was the next step. "Could we go in with a hidden camera?" I asked. The answer was affirmative along with a recommendation that we follow that up with our regular camera.

We gathered the equipment we needed then returned to the warehouse. My photographer walked right in the open door and began shooting with the hidden camera. He was able to record a sign that warned "electric stun guns in use."

He then returned to the car and switched out cameras. We then both walked up to the warehouse in plain view where the construction team greeted us by saying, "Welcome to the concentration camp."

We were able to shoot for about 10 minutes inside before a sheriff's captain approached us.

I politely asked if we could interview him and he said no. Never-the-less, I proceeded with questions and he answered them by saying they couldn't talk about it now.

I must admit the thought entered my mind that I could very well become the first prisoner of this facility. Fortunately we were allowed to leave with no problems.

We then showed our video to leaders of two of the groups that planned to demonstrate at the convention. Zoe Williams of Codepink immediately labeled the facility "Gitmo on the Platte." The name stuck.

After our initial story aired, the city came out with a statement that the warehouse would serve as a processing center in the event of mass arrests. It announced there would be tours conducted the following week. The Undersheriff explained there was no plan for mass arrests, but needed such a facility just in case.

Recreate '68 and the anarchist group "Unconventional Denver" didn't wait. The groups staged a protest at the site carrying "Gitmo" and "Gulag" signs.

Shortly before the convention began, the barbed wire was taken down at the request of the mayor's office. Community members and the rest of the media were then allowed in to see what we had revealed 8 days before.

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