3 men arrested for alleged domestic violence incidents

Police arrested over the weekend three men who were allegedly involved in separate domestic violence incidents on Saipan.

Anthony Mendiola Palacios, 31; Zhao Yi Duan, 28, aka Yiyi; and Thomas Dela Cruz Joab Jr., 28, were served with arrest warrants and taken to Superior Court on Monday for their initial court appearance.

Palacios was apprehended for assault and battery and disturbing the peace.

Duan was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, obstructing justice, and bribery.

Joab was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho retained the $5,000 cash bail for Palacios, $10,000 cash bail for Duan, and $6,250 for Joab.

Assistant public defender Cindy Nebit was appointed as counsel for all three suspects.

Police said a woman called the Department of Public Safety last Sept. 20 at 3:52pm to report a domestic violence incident near the D-Torres building in central Garapan. A responding police officer met with the woman, who alleged that her boyfriend, Palacios, assaulted her. She showed a bruise on her right shoulder and a bump on her head. She claimed that Palacios elbowed her on the nose and choked her with his right arm around her neck.

Three months ago, Palacios also allegedly choked her. Her landlord saw her crawling out of their apartment and called the police.

In Duan’s case, a woman called DPS last Sept. 5 at 10:13pm and reported that her husband, Duan, threw beer bottles at her. When two police officers arrived at the Chinese Restaurant, they saw a man, later identified as Duan, running to the back of Country Steak House in Garapan. The officers gave chase and arrested Duan, who then allegedly offered one officer $1,000 cash to let him go. The victim suffered a scratch on the right leg.

A few weeks ago, Duan also allegedly beat up the victim during an argument, broke her cell phone, and ripped her passport. He drove her to a small road north of Banzai Cliff in Marpi, where he threatened to kill her.

In Joab’s case, a woman called DPS on Sept. 25 at 3:25am, saying her husband, Joab, hit her with a wooden chair at their home in Kagman. A police officer saw a bump and a scratch below the victim’s left elbow and bruising on the left rib area. There was a broken wooden chair on the ground and clothes scattered on the floor.