By Trina A. San Agustin
Variety News Staff

ACTING Guam Customs and Quarantine director David Flores said the absence of one of their officers will have a huge impact on their operations due to shortage of uniformed officers.
On Tuesday, Guam Police Department officers arrested customs officer Cathy Leon Guerrero Santos, 37, of Santa Rita.
Santos was charged by GPD with family violence, official misconduct, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, terrorizing, and assault. She was booked and confined.
GPD public affairs officer Allan Guzman said at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Santos allegedly went to the home of a woman known to her. The two eventually ended up arguing. Santos, according to Guzman, allegedly slapped the woman.
“She (Santos) ended up threatening the occupants of the residence—two women. Santos was arrested because she tried to scare the woman with her service gun,” Guzman told Variety.
Guzman said the woman that Santos threatened received minor injuries because she was struck in the arm. Santos was also injured as she was throwing objects and hitting things.
Customs acting director David Flores has ordered an internal investigation. He said Santos will remain on administrative leave until the investigation is done.
“We had an incident Tuesday night and we immediately responded by sending our internal affairs section to investigate,” Flores said. “Guam Police had gotten the lead in the investigation after a complaint was made. Because an investigation is ongoing…we cannot take a position as management, but we will confirm that an employee was taken in for family violence.”
Flores could not confirm with Variety if Santos drew her service gun during the altercation.
“I don’t even have the…details. I don’t even know who the victims were,” Flores added.
Santos, according to Flores, was one of Customs and Quarantine’s first cycle employees since switching from in-house training to getting certified through the Basic Law Enforcement Academy program offered at Guam Community College.
“She is a stand up employee. She has been here since 1995, so a little over 12 years. This, I believe, is her first run in with the law but I cannot really confirm that,” Flores said.
Flores said Customs will be following its procedures when it comes to matters such as this.
Flores said Customs was already short staffed and the absence of Santos would affect the agency.
“We are already short as it is. Officer Santos just came out of a military deployment with the National Guard and it does affect our staffing. Based on liability, we cannot put anyone on the line without being armed,” added Flores.