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Man arrested for allegedly stealing copper wires
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Posted on Aug 26 2011
A man was arrested early yesterday morning while allegedly in the process of stealing copper wires along Beach Road.
According to police, Primo Ogarto’s action affected the pathway’s wiring system from Oleai Beach Club down to the Department of Public Safety’s fire station in western Garapan.
Ogarto was brought to the Superior Court yesterday afternoon for a Gerstein hearing, a proceeding when the arrest of a suspect is done without an arrest warrant.
Associate Judge David Wiseman found probable cause to continue Ogarto’s detention on charges of felony theft. Bail was set at $10,000 cash. It was not immediately known if Ogarto was able to post bail yesterday.
Wiseman said that stealing of copper wires is a very serious offense as the victim is not just one person or entity but the whole community.
Police officer Daniel Quitugua, who narrated to the court the circumstances that led to Ogarto’s arrest, said that police officers had spotted Ogarto acting suspiciously along Beach Road early yesterday morning.
The officers approached the suspect and recovered from him copper wires that were already cut and a bush cutter. The quantity of recovered wires was not specified.
Ogarto allegedly confessed to the crime.
Assistant attorney general Russell Lorfing later told Saipan Tribune that they want to send a strong message that the Office of the Attorney General takes seriously “this egregious crime of theft of copper wires” as this affects the entire community.
Police officer Jason Tarkong, a mixed martial arts fighter, said that Ogarto used to be an MMA fighter but is no longer active.
