Man, 70, suffers fractured jaw after 3 men allegedly beat him up

A 70-year-old man sustained a fractured left jaw after three men allegedly beat him up when he accidentally hit a girl with his truck along Flame Tree Road in Dandan last Friday morning.

Pantaleon P. De Jillas’ spine was also swollen, possibly from being kicked, according to a police detective.

De Jillas’ son, Ernie Matagolai De Jillas, was also treated by paramedics after one of the three men also smacked his right ear with a piece of hollow block.

Police arrested Juan Laniyo Norita, 48, and his son, Jerome Kaipat Norita, 23, on charges of aggravated assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

The third suspect, Fred Kaipat, has not been arrested yet. The three are related to the girl, who was hit by the truck.

A $16,250 cash bail each was initially imposed on Juan and Jerome Norita. The two were taken to the Superior Court yesterday afternoon for a bail hearing.

Detective Raymond B. Borja stated in his report that a police officer responded to Flame Tree Road in Dandan on Friday at 7:19am after receiving a call about a female juvenile that was struck by a vehicle.

When the officer arrived at the scene, he noticed a group of individuals standing around a girl, who was lying on the roadway. The girl was gasping for breath and she had blood on her mouth.

Jerome Norita told the responding officer that the victim was struck by a Nissan pickup truck.

Ernie De Jillas approached the officer and told him that Juan and Jerome Norita, along with Fred Kaipat, beat him up. Ernie De Jillas’ right ear was bleeding at the time.

The officer then approached the 70-year-old Pantaleon De Jillas, who was walking toward an ambulance. The officer learned that Pantaleon De Jillas was the driver of the pickup truck that was involved in the accident.

Pantaleon De Jillas, whose left face was swollen at the time, told the officer that Juan and Jerome Norita and Fred Kaipat punched and kicked him repeatedly. Borja said the victim’s left cheek was swollen and he was complaining of pain on his left face and back.

Borja said that, according to Pantaleon De Jillas, he was driving home along Flame Tree Road at 15 miles per hour when he saw a girl walking.

When it started to rain, the girl turned to the right, directly in front of the truck. De Jillas said he tried to avoid the girl, but the truck still ended up hitting her.

When Pantaleon De Jillas got down from the truck and leaned over to check the girl, Jerome Norita tackled him from behind and punched him.

Juan Norita and Fred Kaipat came and also allegedly joined in punching and kicking him, causing him to fall.

After receiving a call about the beating of their father, Ernie De Jillas and his brother proceeded to the scene, where they saw their father lying on the ground.

Ernie De Jillas said he was armed with a machete as he was not aware what was going on. As Ernie and his brother got down from their car, the three suspects started throwing pieces of hollow blocks and rocks at them.

It was Juan Norita who allegedly smacked Ernie De Jillas with a piece of hollow block that pierced his right ear.

The suspects chased Ernie De Jillas, who threw down his machete. When Ernie De Jillas tripped and fell to the ground, Jerome Norita allegedly pointed the machete at him.

The girl was treated for her injuries.