Car chase with allegedly ‘high’ ex-convict

A wanted ex-convict, who was allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine or “ice,” engaged a police officer in a car chase, hitting two vehicles before his pickup truck slammed into the concrete Mihaville Estate sign in Garapan Wednesday afternoon.

The suspect, Juan Delos Reyes Tydingco, then fled on foot, but police officer later arrested him.

In a separate incident in San Jose Saturday morning, the 43-year-old Tydingco allegedly shoved an Office of the Attorney General investigator who was about to handcuff him to serve an outstanding bench warrant for his arrest.

As a result, the OAG investigator suffered a minor cut on his right middle finger caused by the handcuffs.

Tydingco was brought before Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo yesterday afternoon for a bail hearing in the traffic and criminal cases.

A $10,000 and $5,000 cash bail were imposed on the defendant in the traffic and criminal cases, respectively.

In the traffic case, Tydingco was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving, causing accidents, and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

In the criminal case, the defendant was charged with resisting arrest and escape.

Highway Patrol investigator Norris Kwon stated in the traffic complaint that police officer Michael Langdon was doing routine patrol along Chalan Pale Arnold in Chalan Laulau last Wednesday at 2:24pm when he observed a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck approaching from the southbound lane with no front license plate.

Langdon activated his emergency lights and siren and made a U-turn in an attempt to stop the truck. The officer then saw that the truck had a rear license plate.

The truck continued to travel south, then made a right turn to Chalan Monsignor Guerrero Road, and sped off.

The truck then made a right turn to north of Beach Road at a speed between 60 miles per hour to 80mph, passing other vehicles left to right, and even using shoulder lanes.

The truck used the opposite lane in passing vehicles traveling in the same direction. At one point, near Saipan Computer Services, the truck was facing head on with a school bus that was traveling in the opposite direction.

The truck then made a right turn on Kopa Di Oru Street by the Horiguchi Building in Garapan, then made a left turn on Chalan Pale Arnold Road.

The truck continued to travel north, then collided with two vehicles at the four-way traffic signal light intersection leading to China Town. The two vehicles were damaged, but the truck continued to travel north, then attempted to turn right to the intersection to upper MIHA, but lost control and slammed into the concrete Mihaville sign. Tydingco, who was the only occupant of the truck, got out of the truck and fled to a nearby house. Langdon himself got out of his patrol car, gave chase, and arrested Tydingco. The officers then brought the suspect to the Commonwealth Health Center after he complained of pain to his abdomen.

Tydingco allegedly confessed to four police officers and OAG investigators that he had smoked a lot of methamphetamine earlier that day.

The defendant was then served with an outstanding arrest and bench warrants. He was later detained at the Department of Corrections.

According to court records, Tydingco pleaded guilty on March 21, 2017, to illegal possession of a controlled substance and was remanded to DOC. Tydingco was released from DOC on Sept. 24, 2018, and was placed under supervised probation.

Last May 3, the CNMI Probation Office filed a petition to revoke Tydingco’s probation for violating the condition of his probation. Tydingco, however, failed to appear in court last Aug. 12. This prompted the court to issue a bench warrant in the amount of $1,000.

The court held in abeyance the $1,000 bench warrant and set a an arraignment hearing last Sept. 12. Tydingco, however, did not show up. The judge then issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

In the criminal case, OAG Investigative Division investigator Ikluk Masayos stated in his report that he was driving south on Beach Road last Saturday at 8:50am and had just reached the Saipan World Resort when he spotted Tydingco’s Tacoma truck traveling north in the opposite direction.

Aware of the bench warrant against Tydingco, Masayos made a U-turn and followed the truck until it parked in front of the Blue Saipan Garden, which is a motel in San Jose.

Masayos parked directly behind the truck, approached the driver’s side, identified himself as an OAG investigator, and instructed Tydingco to turn off the truck and step out.

Masayos said Tydingco explained that he had already spoken to an OAG investigator about his case. Masayos told him that he has an outstanding bench warrant.

As Masayos was placing the handcuffs on Tydingco’s hands, the defendant turned around and shoved the investigator on the chest. Masayos almost fell backward to the ground. Tydingco then ran away.

Masayos, who had a minor injury on his right middle finger due to the handcuffs, remained in his vehicle and waited for assistance from police and his chief.