By Trina A. San Agustin
Variety News Staff

THE Guam Police Department’s Tamuning Precinct arrested a Dededo man and charged him with theft of property and burglary, according to Police Officer A.J. Balajadia.
Thomas Carl Johnson Mendiola, 32, the assistant manager at the Sherwin Williams paint supply store in Tamuning, was arrested and charged.
The store burned last week. It is not known at this point if Mendiola will also be charged with arson. That decision will be made by Guam Fire Department investigators.
“The case is still ongoing and of course, additional charges may be pending from GFD when it’s done with the investigation,” Balajadia said.
Officers received information from a private investigator hired by the owners of the paint store. Police then took that information and conducted their own investigation which led them to believe that Mendiola was involved in the case.
Balajadia also told Variety that if it’s proven that Mendiola did not act alone, then the others will be charged accordingly.
It was not known what items were stolen and if they were recovered by police.
The case remains under investigation by GPD’s Tamuning/Tumon Precinct. If you have any information on this case, call them at 649-6330/9526 or Guam Crime Stoppers at 477-HELP (4357). Crime Stoppers does not use caller ID and you do not have to leave your name.