Ex-Tinian police director slams DPS for alleged inaction on his complaint

Former Tinian police director Vicente H. Borja slammed the Department of Public Safety yesterday for allegedly not acting on his police brutality complaint against a policewoman.

In a telephone interview with the Saipan Tribune, Borja said the domestic violence charges filed against him have already been dismissed on Feb. 10, 2006, but DPS Tinian has yet to act on his complaint against Police Officer Catherine Manglona.

“I am now looking for a lawyer who will assist me in filing a lawsuit against DPS. It’s not about money. It’s about having our police officers here perform their task professionally,” said the 43-year-old retired police official.

The Saipan Tribune tried to reach Manglona and Tinian police director Michael H. San Nicolas, but they were not available for comment.

Borja said Manglona pushed him in the chest at least four times at the Tinian DPS police station for allegedly resisting arrest on Sept. 27, 2005. He said he was even denied his right to call a lawyer.

The former police official recalled that he had proceeded to the police station that day after learning that Manglona had earlier gone to his house looking for him.

He said that, after almost an hour of waiting at the police station, Manglona arrived and told him she was going to arrest him for beating up his wife the night before.

As he tried to explain, Borja said the officer “assaulted” him by pushing him four times.

He said the police then transported him to Saipan on that day, where he, through a friend, posted a $2,000 bail.

Borja said he then filed an assault complaint against Manglona at the Tinian police, particularly with Wally Villagomez, the then internal affairs administrator, and Silvestre Palacios, the then chief of criminal investigation.

The Attorney General’s Office subsequently charged Borja with assault and battery, disturbing the peace, and violation of a temporary restraining order.

During a bench trial on Tinian on Feb. 19, 2006, Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman found Borja not guilty of assault and battery and dismissed the other charges for lack of evidence.

Attorney Edward Arriola served as counsel for the defendant. Assistant attorney general Will Bierman represented the government.

Only Borja and his former wife testified in court. The former wife said that on the evening of Sept. 26, 2005, the defendant choked her and slapped her while she was sleeping.

The former police director said he is relieved that the judge dismissed the case.

“The bottom line is I did not commit any criminal acts. She [former wife] was not even hospitalized,” he said.

On the contrary, Borja said, he had a witness when Manglona assaulted him.

Borja retired in 1999 after serving 16 years in the department.