Monterey – Former President Barack Obama arrived at the Monterey Jet Center on Wednesday evening to take part in a private AT&T leadership conference.

“Our bomb squad is out today checking out some areas to do the normal sweep they do for all dignitaries for explosives for former President Barack Obama,” said John Thornburg, a spokesman for the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and an explosive-detection dog were at the Monterey Jet Center Wednesday afternoon, checking the area and the vehicles that would later be used for the former president’s motorcade.

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“We have Harry, the bomb dog, who sweeps the area and we have two techs who go with (the dog) to make sure if anything is found that they can expect it,”

Thornburg said the Sheriff’s Office first heard from the Secret Service about a week ago that Obama would be coming to the Monterey Peninsula.

Obama is not listed among the celebrities taking part in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, though a golf bag was unloaded from his jet into one of the vehicles in his motorcade. The former president is an avid golfer.

A small group of people gathered at the Monterey Jet Center hoping to get a glimpse of Obama as he arrived.

Joe Biden, Obama’s vice president, visited the Monterey Peninsula in 2012 to speak at a Carmel fundraiser.

Tommy Wright can be reached at 831-726-4375.