Robber strikes at Kingfisher Golf Course

A robber struck at the Kingfisher Golf Course in Talofofo Thursday noon but responding police officers immediately arrested the suspect—notorious ex-convict Ramon Cabrera Blas.

At yesterday’s hearing, Superior Court associate judge David A. Wiseman found probable cause to justify the arrest of the 52-year-old Blas.

Assistant attorney general Russell Lorfing recommended a $20,000 cash bail for Blas, but Wiseman increased it to $50,000 cash, saying the suspect poses a danger to the community.

Preliminary hearing will be on Nov. 3 at 9am.

Police officer J.J. Cabrera, who narrated to the court the circumstances that led to Blas’ arrest, said that a 45-year-old Chinese woman was playing golf with friends by Hole No. 18 when the suspect jumped into her golf cart and sped off, taking her bag and a companion’s bag that were left in the cart. The bags contained $349 and other items.

Witnesses spotted the suspect, later identified as Blas, parking the cart nearby, fleeing on foot toward the cliffline, and walking toward Jeffrey’s Beach. That was where responding police officers caught him.

Witnesses, including the victims, positively identified Blas.

Officers recovered $349 from him.

A water hose was also found hanging on the cliffline. Investigators were still checking whether Blas used the hose to escape or to lower the stolen items.

Lorfing said that investigators are also checking whether Blas is connected with other robbery incidents at other golf courses.

Court records show that Blas has several criminal convictions since 1994, mostly for robbery, burglary, theft, and assault.

Among his previous cases is a burglary and theft incident on July 15, 2004, when police arrested him for burglarizing a van in Garapan where he stole a portable DVD player and an electric saw. That same night, Blas also stole a laptop worth $2,000 from Pastime Dive Shop in China Town.

Police recovered the items in Blas’ possession along with bundles of U.S. dollar bills worth $1,856 and Japanese yen bills of unknown amount, as well as drug paraphernalia.

Lorfing said that they are taking these robberies seriously, citing the importance of protecting tourists and other customers in golf courses.

On Oct. 18, an unidentified man robbed an elderly Japanese couple who were playing golf at Mariana Country Club in Marpi. The suspect ran off with the victims’ purse containing two pairs of sunglasses and $300 worth of traveler’s checks.

On Oct. 10, an unidentified man also robbed a 51-year-old local female who was playing golf with her daughter at Coral Ocean Point. The suspect ran off with the victims’ purses that had been left on the golf cart. The purses contained $700 cash. The suspect and a companion fled the parking lot on two three-wheeled motor scooters.