POLICE BRIEFS

Ex-cop threatens wife with machete

A former law enforcement officer was arrested over the weekend for allegedly threatening his wife with a dangerous weapon while he was intoxicated with alcohol at the couple’s residence in Tanapag.

Emmanuel Limes Norita’s 48-year-old spouse claimed the suspect slapped her and threatened her with a machete, according to police.

Department of Public Safety spokesperson Cecil Celes reported that the 49-year-old Commonwealth Health Center employee was drunk when he sat down with his 19-year-old son for a conversation outside their home that night.

After a while, his 16-year-old daughter summoned her older brother to get inside the house to avoid any more confrontations with their apparently drunk father.

The suspect followed his children inside the house and started banging on the bedroom door with a machete.

When he was finally able to enter the room where his son, daughter and wife were, Mrs. Norita pled him to leave their kids alone.

The husband reportedly refused to heed his wife’s request and instead threatened her with the dangerous weapon. According to Ms. Celes, police arrived on the scene before the suspect’s threats could materialize into actual acts of crime.

Police arrested Mr. Norita for charges of disturbing the peace, assault and battery, and assault. The suspect was brought before the Superior Court yesterday, where a $2,000 cash bail was set for his temporary release.

Children in swimming accident

A team of DPS Boating Safety officers with aid from a Saipan boat owner rescued three distressed young boys who were spotted off the pier last Sunday apparently stranded in high current waters.

The boys aged 11 and 13 were found by authorities struggling to reach the dock with a frail bamboo raft in an attempt to save themselves.

But according to police, the strong current that afternoon kept bringing the minors farther into the lagoon.

Miguel Aldan, who happened to be in the area while conducting an engine test on his boat detected the children’s need for assistance. He immediately rescued the two lads floating next to a buoy while they clung to the raft for dear life. Meanwhile, the third boy was recovered outside the reef.

Police are currently investigating why the children were without adult supervision in what turned out to be a dangerous swimming activity. The case has been forwarded to the DPS juvenile section.

Woman hurt in car crash

A female Japanese national allegedly neglected to follow proper pedestrian signs when she made her way from the Hard Rock Cafe block to the 123 Discount Store in Garapan last week.

The incident resulted in a pedestrian crash after a Chevy pick-up truck heading west direction on Beach Road made a right turn and struck the Japanese.

She sustained abrasions on both knees and was brought to the Commonwealth Health Center for treatment.

According to Department of Public Safety spokesperson Cecil Celes, the crash was caused by the pedestrian’s failure to yield to the vehicle’s right of way when she attempted to cross the street.