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Man shot dead had pending criminal case
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Posted on Dec 14 2005
The man who was shot dead by a police officer during a fight in Gualo Rai on Sunday night, had a pending criminal case in Superior Court, the Saipan Tribune learned yesterday.
Police learned that Donald Suell, a Chuukese, identified himself before to investigators as Orin Tagabuel.
As a result, the Attorney General’s Office filed on April 27, 2005 an information charging Orin Tagabuel with two counts of criminal mischief.
Police never served the summons to Orin Tagabuel because initially they were not aware that his real name was Donald Suell and that they could not locate him.
Court documents show that the court took the hearings off calendar on May 23, June 20, and July 11, 2005 because the defendant was never served with the summons and never appeared in court.
The information stated that on March 14, 2005, Tagabuel damaged the driver’s window of a 1991 Mazda pick-up truck belonging to Christopher C. Melindo.
Chief Prosecutor Jeffrey Moots also alleged that on the same day, Tagabuel damaged the rear window of a 1996 Ford Taurus four-door sedan belonging to Josephine Mesta.
Police Officer 1 Andrew Santos shot Duell in the chest twice when the latter reportedly tried to attack the officer with a 2”X4” piece of lumber during a commotion at a residence in Gualo Rai.
Duell was pronounced dead at the Commonwealth Health Center.
Police arrested on Tuesday afternoon Duell’s companion identified as Oncho A. Alafonso, an ex-convict.
The court imposed a $100,000 cash bail on Alafonso for attempted murder, aggravated assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, criminal mischief, and disturbing the peace.
A detective said Alafonso and Suell beat up and assaulted Ernest Rangamar and his father Rafael Rangamar with a piece of lumber after a drinking session.
Santos was among three police officers who immediately responded to the commotion, the Department of Public Safety said.
