Three arrested in alleged plot against Baton Rouge police

Three people have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to kill police in Baton Rouge, La., police Chief Carl Dabadie said Tuesday, according to CNN.

Dabadie said one person was arrested over the weekend during a burglary at a pawn shop where eight guns were stolen.

{mosads}The man arrested told police that he was attempting “to get bullets to harm police officers in the Baton Rouge police department,” Dabadie said. 

Two other suspects have been arrested since Saturday, but one remains at large. One of the suspects arrested is a 13-year-old.

The plot came to light after police fatally shot Alton Sterling last week in Baton Rouge, an action that spurred protests across the country.

“We have been questioned repeatedly over the last several days about our show of force and why we have the tactics that we have. Well, this is the reason,” Dabadie said. “Because we had credible threats against the lives of law enforcement in the city.”

Law enforcement officers said the threat influenced their actions at a weekend protest, when demonstrators were allegedly becoming unruly.

“We can’t take anything for granted any more,” said East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, according to CNN.

“What you saw in the [law enforcement] response is because of the very real and viable threats against law enforcement. Look what happened in Dallas. A very peaceful protest and then some crazy madman.”