More charges in prison standoff

Ring leader William Sablan and cohorts did not only fire the 9-millimeter stolen pistol but terrorized the 8 remaining detainees being held at the male detention center during the 14-hour siege last Tuesday.

Findings from the investigation conducted by the special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and FBI showed that Sablan, Vicente Aldan Jr., Jeffrey Celis, Ryan Babauta, Edwin Blas and Arcel Busto treated the 8 detainees as their hostages.

In a press conference held Friday, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Charles Ingram said Roland Kapileo, Sheldon Yano, Saddy Charteron, Chi Chong Wen, Wang Ting Hua, Zhu Zhe We, Wang Jun and Cui Xing Hao were terrorized at gun point, shots were fired next to their heads, were beaten, stripped naked, robbed of personal belongings and were used as human shields.

“These victims were terrorized, degraded and as Mr. William Sablan so aptly puts it — were treated like animals,” he said.

The 8 victims were given medical attention and some have left the detention center after their cases were heard.

However, Sablan’s group, who flew to Guam Wednesday, will face additional federal and local charges after both investigations will come to a conclusion.

Earlier, they were charged with a federal offense for possession of firearm during Tuesday’s hostage drama and were admitted at the Division of Corrections on Guam while awaiting trial.

Ingram said 42 bullets were fired during the prison standoff based on DPS own investigation at the male detention center. The semi-automatic Smith and Wesson pistol that was ransacked from the security locker was loaded with 45 bullets. After the siege, DPS officers counted only three remaining bullets inside the 9 millimeter gun.

Following the clean-up of the detention center showed physical signs on where some of the bullets were fired, however, DPS will still have to gather other evidences to confirm the 42 count.

Property damage is estimated to cost the CNMI government between $100,000 to $200,000 to restore the facility.

Ingram said the detention center was slated to be demolished after the construction of the multi-million new prison but for the meantime it has to be restored to take care of the day to day number of detainees coming in to DOC.