Suspect in helmet attack on Tinian arrested

Police arrested on Saturday the suspect who allegedly slammed a motorcycle helmet on a man’s head outside a nightclub on Tinian.

Before defendant Luis P. Cruz left the scene on board a moped, he was allegedly seen spitting on the victim, who was already lying on the ground.

Witnesses and a surveillance camera that caught the attack on tape reportedly led to the identification of the 41-year-old Cruz.

The victim, Cui Jingzhu, was transported to Tinian Health Center, then to the Commonwealth Health Center for head injuries.

According to a Tinian detective, when he interviewed Jingzhu at CHC on Friday, he and a Korean/Chinese translator could not understand what the victim was saying. The detective said that the victim was talking to himself and at the same time doing odd sign languages.

Cruz was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon and aggravated assault and battery. A $25,000 cash bail was initially imposed for his temporary release.

At a hearing yesterday morning, Superior Court associate judge Juan T. Lizama kept the bail amount at $25,000 cash.

Detective Anthony P. Borja stated in court documents that on April 13 at 12:56am, an unknown person called the Tinian Department of Public Safety to ask for police’s help over at Huang Shun U-Save Supermarket.

When two police officers arrived at the scene, they noticed a man, later identified as Jingzhu, lying on the ground next to a car.

The officers observed that the victim’s eyes were closed and kept swaying his head from left to right. Jingzhu could not talk.

Two firefighters responded to the area and gave the victim medical attention. A witness later approached and told a police officer that he saw a local man struck the victim on the head with a motorcycle helmet.

Jingzhu was then transported to Tinian Health Center for further medical evaluation.

The witness told a police officer that prior to the attack, he and Jingzhu went to the U-Joy Nite Club where they each drank a bottle of beer.

The witness said that, as they walked outside the club between 12:30am to 12:45am, the victim had an argument with two local men.

The witness said he tried to pacify them. As the witness went to his bicycle, he then saw one man struck the victim with a helmet.

The suspect left on board a motorcycle. The witness did not notice where the other man went.

Police later reviewed the footage of a surveillance camera installed in a store at the area. The witness also identified Cruz as the suspect.

At yesterday’s bail hearing, Lizama rejected defense attorney Joey San Nicolas’ motion to temporarily release Cruz to a third party custodian on $5,000 cash bail plus property bond.

San Nicolas had recommended Cruz’s sister, Tinian Department of Community and Cultural Affairs resident director Principia C. Monkeya, to serve as third party custodian.

Assistant attorney general Joseph Taijeron did not object to Cruz’s release on a $2,500 cash plus property bond worth $22,500.

When Lizama expressed that he would not grant the motion, San Nicolas said they are willing to double the amount by paying a $5,000 cash plus property bond.

Lizama, however, pointed out that to appoint Cruz’s sister as third party custodian is not the best selection, considering that her husband, Melvin Monkeya, is a Tinian police officer.

Lizama also stated that he does not accept homestead land as property bond and that he does not understand why the government accepts homestead as property bond. The judge said that the case is very serious and that Cruz poses a danger to the community.

“He [Cruz] doesn’t deserve to be released right away!” Lizama said.

Taijeron tried to intervene, but Lizama said the prosecutor doesn’t need to say anything at that point. Taijeron insisted that he be allowed to respond, but the judge turned him down again. The prosecutor said he is compelled to respond and that what he only wants is for justice in this case.

“Be careful Mr. Taijeron. You are out of bounds! Be seated, right now! I will do my job. And you would do well your job!” Lizama said.

The judge told Taijeron that if he wants to be a defense counsel, he should sit on the other side of the table.