By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

A TINIAN police officer is facing criminal charges for assaulting his brother-in-law whom he accused him of having an affair with his wife.
Vicente N. Cruz, 36, was arrested on March 8 at 3:16 p.m. in San Jose, Tinian, for two counts of assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, criminal mischief, disturbing the peace and violating an order of protection.
Cruz was brought to Superior Court for a bail hearing on Monday before Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja.
Cruz, represented by attorney Joey San Nicolas, posted an unsecured bond of $2,500 and a house and lot property bond.
Cruz was released through a third-party custodian — his elder sister.
He was ordered to observe a daily curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and to return to court on April, 13 for arraignment.
He was also ordered to surrender his service firearm and was prohibited from carrying or possessing a firearm while on bail.
According to the affidavit of Detective Barbara K. Arend, Cruz went to his brother-in-law’s house and confronted him and accused him of having an affair with his wife.
The affidavit stated that Cruz tried to punch the victim and hit him with a metal folding chair.
The affidavit added that the victim’s children and the two of the defendant’s children were present “when the commotion occurred.”
Cruz tried to choke one of the victim’s minor sons, according to the affidavit.
It added that Cruz violated an order of protection when he went to his wife’s residence and talked to her.
The defendant’s wife sought a temporary restraining order on Feb. 2, which Superior Court Judge Kenneth Govendo granted.
The judge’s order prohibited Cruz from having any contact with his wife, who was assaulted by the police officer in the past.