DPS chief’s stepson is being accused of beating girlfriend

Shane Mendiola, 33, is accompanied by a Corrections officer for his bail hearing last Friday at the Superior Court. (KIMBERLY BAUTIUSTA)

The stepson of Department of Public Safety Commissioner Robert Guerrero was released from Department of Corrections custody on an unsecured bond less than 24 hours after being detained for allegedly beating his girlfriend.

Shane Mendiola, 33, who is also a police officer, was granted release from DOC to his third-party custodian at around 10am Friday morning after being detained Thursday evening on charges of assault and battery, domestic violence, and disturbing the peace.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho allowed Mendiola to be released on an unsecured bond to his brother, Herman Aguon, who serves as his third-party custodian. An unsecured bond means Mendiola was not required to post a cent of his initial $10,000 cash bail.

Saipan Tribune learned that Mendiola turned himself in Thursday evening. By Friday morning, Mendiola’s lawyer was ready to propose modification of his bail and had already prepared a memorandum for release to a third-party custodian.

Family members of the victim said that when they reported the incident to police the day before, Wednesday, responding officers did not arrest Mendiola allegedly because of orders given by a couple of DPS officers (Saipan Tribune is temporarily withholding their names).

According to court documents, police responded to a disturbing the peace call at around 9:31pm last Wednesday, made by one of two witnesses in the alleged assault.

One of the witnesses told police that at around 9pm that night, she was with the victim and another friend at the Safe House bar in Garapan when Mendiola showed up in full DPS Boating Safety uniform.

The witness told police that Mendiola came in and pulled the victim to have her follow him. Outside, the witnesses said they saw the victim leave with Mendiola. Not long after, the witnesses said they received a message from the victim stating that Mendiola punched her in the face.

At around 10:09pm, the responding officers arrived at the victim’s residence in As Matuis and made contact with the victim and Mendiola who were standing by the front door. The victim told police that Mendiola had arrived at Safe House and was calling out to her and then later pulled her by her pants and said, “Let’s go.”

In the car, the victim said Mendiola kept asking her why she wasn’t answering her phone and when she told Mendiola that she was just going to have a couple of drinks, Mendiola allegedly punched her in the mouth. Police observed dark purple bruising on the inner part of her lower lip. The victim said Mendiola also pulled her hair and pulled out her earing. Mendiola’s girlfriend told police that she is scared of Mendiola but feels bad for their children.

In an interview with Mendiola, he claims he did not hit the victim and he only yelled at her for not answering her phone. He also said that he was only wearing his DPS issued uniform because he didn’t have any other shirt at the time.