Burglary at a Phoenix Garden Duplex guest house

On Thursday, June 23, 2019, at about 2:53pm, a CNMI Department of Public Safety officer conducted a routine patrol around the upper Mihaville housing area in Garapan, when he noticed a window of an unoccupied guest house was ajar. Since the duplex guest house looked vacant, the officer decided to take a closer look to make sure that the window had not been accidentally left open. 

As the officer approached the window, he noticed a faint odor of burnt marijuana and the sound of multiple individuals talking. As the officer announced himself through the window as a police officer, the guest house went silent. As the officer walked around the house he noticed that another window at the back of the house had a torn-up window screen. He then radioed DPS central for assistance. Another officer who was in the area immediately arrived on scene to assist.

Officers cleared the first guest house and proceeded to the second part of the duplex, where they noticed multiple slippers and footwear scattered within the rooms. As they made their way through the second house, a container with a green leafy substance was also found on one of the tables. As officers proceeded to clear the house, five juveniles were found hiding in one of the restrooms. Officers then instructed the individuals to step out.

Officers then called one of the parents of the five juveniles, who stated that he and the other parents have been looking for them for the past two days. The officer then told the parent that they have found all five juveniles in one of the guest houses. After a short interview, the five juveniles were brought to Commonwealth Health Center for medical clearance before they were brought to the Department of Corrections for booking and detention.

On June 24, 2019, detectives interviewed the five juveniles, with one confessing to burglarizing the Phoenix Garden Guest House with the other four juveniles. 

On June 27, 2019, at about 12:53pm, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho issued an arrest warrant for the charges of burglary and theft of service for the five juveniles. All five juveniles were apprehended later the same day.

The CNMI Department of Public Safety encourages the public to call 911 anytime to report a crime or an emergency. (PR)