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

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.

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.

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.