$50K cash bail for poker arcade robbery suspect

Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman yesterday imposed a $50,000 cash bail on a suspect in a poker arcade robbery who was caught by a security guard during a chase.

Wiseman said there is probable cause to believe that Zhe Xu Dong, 43, committed armed robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon.

The judge ordered Dong to stay away from Smile Poker in Chalan Kanoa, security guard Jack L. Ruben, the poker arcade’s cashier, and the poker customer who was also allegedly robbed.

Preliminary hearing was set for May 14.

Police said it was Ruben, the security guard of Smile Poker, who tackled Dong after a brief chase, shortly after the suspect allegedly robbed the arcade early Wednesday morning.

A responding police officer arrested Dong. Saipan Tribune learned that the suspect is jobless.

Detective Christopher Leon Guerrero stated in his report that the suspect managed to get $60 cash from a customer and about $162 cash from Smile Poker.

Leon Guerrero said the officers later recovered the suspect’s brown hat mask, his white and black long-sleeved shirt, and $125 cash.

Leon Guerrero stated in the report that Dong entered Smile Poker and grabbed from behind a woman who was the lone customer at the time.

Dong pointed a possible knife or a screwdriver at the woman’s neck, demanded money, and took cash from the woman’s pocket.

The customer struggled with Dong and then ran outside and activated her car alarm to get someone’s attention.

Dong went to the cashier’s booth and banged the knife against the door, demanding that the cashier open the booth and give him money. The cashier grabbed some bills from the counter and threw them out through a small window.

After collecting the money, Dong fled on foot. Security guard Ruben was at the parking lot at the time when he heard the commotion inside the establishment and the customer’s car alarm.

Ruben saw Dong exiting the establishment and tried to stop him. The suspect tried to stab the guard with the knife.

The guard chased the suspect. The customer followed in her car and told the guard to get in.

The car then pursued Dong who was spotted near the Bless Apartment. Ruben caught the suspect. A police officer later arrived and arrested Dong.

Smile Poker in Chalan Kanoa was first robbed in April 2007. The same arcade was also robbed twice last April.