DPS nabs ex-convict in Gualo Rai fight

Police arrested an ex-convict who was the companion of a man who was fatally shot by a police officer during a fight at a residence in Gualo Rai Sunday night.

Oncho A. Alafonso, 22, was picked up on Tuesday at 3:50pm at the Commonwealth Health Center where he also sought treatment for his injuries, police said.

As this developed, sources at the Department of Public Safety yesterday identified the man who, was shot dead by Police Officer 1 Andrew Santos, as Donald Suell also known as Orin Tagabuel.

Alafonso was brought yesterday afternoon for a Gerstein hearing before Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo.

A Gerstein hearing is a probable cause determination if a suspect is arrested without a warrant. It is usually made at the suspect’s first court appearance.

After listening to the testimony of Detective Christopher Leon Guerrero and to the arguments of a prosecutor, Govendo found probable cause to warrant the defendant’s arrest on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, criminal mischief, and disturbing the peace.

Govendo granted the Attorney General’s Office’s recommendation to impose a $100,000 cash bail for Alafonso’s temporary liberty. He set the preliminary hearing for Dec. 22 at 9 am.

Detective Leon Guerrero said Alafonso and his companion beat up Ernest Rangamar and his father Rafael Rangamar outside the Rangamars’ residence.

The Saipan Tribune learned that Leon Guerrero was referring to Suell as Alafonso’s companion.

Leon Guerrero said when responding police officers arrived, Ernest Rangamar was unconscious on the ground.

Ernest Rangamar suffered a 15-cm. laceration on top of the head, and other lacerations and abrasions to the head, knees, and shoulders. He was released from the CHC only yesterday afternoon, Leon Guerrero said.

Rafael Rangamar was also treated at CHC for abrasions to the elbows and different parts of the body.

The detective said that earlier that Sunday night, Alafonso and his companion came to the Rangamars’ house, demanding to open the doors and asking for a fight against a person.

There were six people inside mostly ladies and they did not understand what the two men were talking about, Leon Guerrero said.

The two men were banging the screen at the house’s door with objects. One then took a bicycle beside the house and damaged it, he said.

One of the ladies then saw the two men beating up Ernest Rangamar on the road. The fight escalated from the road to the Rangamars’ residence when Ernest Rangamar ran to the house.

The ladies tried to stop the fight. One lady took a 2”X4” lumber about three feet long. But one of the two men grabbed it from her. The lady ran back to the house.

One of the two men repeatedly punched and kicked Ernest Rangamar, while the second suspect repeatedly struck the victim with the lumber.

One of the suspects shouted in Chuukese, “kill him!” Leon Guerrero said, quoting witnesses.

Rafael Rangamar came and tried to stop the suspects from beating up his son. He was instead pushed aside while one suspect struck him repeatedly with the lumber, Leon Guerrero said.

Rafael Rangamar tried to block the lumber with his hands.

The three windows of the house were shattered when the two suspects tried to open the house and damaged them.

Leon Guerrero said Alafonso was just released from jail after serving a conviction in a criminal case and that he had two previous criminal cases.

Alafonso is under probation, he added.

Court records show that in March 2004, Alafonso was arrested for beating and stabbing Jason Ada in central Garapan.

In Feb. 2005, Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman sentenced Alafonso to five years in prison, “all suspended except for the term to be concluded on Nov. 26, 2005”, for burglary.

Wiseman gave Alafonso credit for the time he already served in jail since he was arrested on November 26, 2004.

For probation violation, the defendant was sentenced to one year in jail to be served concurrently with the sentence imposed for burglary.

The judge placed the defendant on probation and required him to pay $105 in court assessment and probation fees.

PO1 Santos reportedly shot dead Suell for trying to attack him with a piece of lumber. Santos was among three police officers who responded to the fight.

Suel was shot twice in the chest and was pronounced dead at CHC.

Police requested that an autopsy be conducted to determine Suell’s cause of death.

Officer Santos, of the patrol section, was relieved from his field duty and is now assigned at the front desk, DPS said.