Olngeschang Iked Mengidab
THE Department of Public Safety has arrested Olngeschang Iked Mengidab in connection with the vandalism of the BankPacific ATM machine early Wednesday morning.
Mengidab, 43, was arrested Wednesday afternoon.
In an earlier statement, DPS public information officer Dre Pangelinan said that at approximately 3 a.m. Wednesday, a witness reported an ATM lying on the ground outside BankPacific, prompting a 911 call.
“Officers arrived on the scene around 3:30 a.m. and processed the area. Fingerprints were lifted from the ATM shortly after,” Pangelinan said.
He added, “Surveillance footage revealed the incident began around 12:12 a.m., when a medium-built male, dressed in a black shirt, black shorts, and red Crocs, approached the ATM. The footage showed him forcibly detaching the machine from its slot at 12:33 a.m. By 12:36 a.m., the suspect was seen searching for cash but left empty-handed.”
BankPacific’s management confirmed that no money was stolen during the incident.
Authorities are continuing their investigation and are encouraging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
DPS urges the public to call 911 at any time to report a crime or emergency. “Our officers are here to help you,” Pangelinan said.
Variety learned that prior to the incident at BankPacific, the suspect was also seen on surveillance cameras attempting to enter apartment units and vehicles at the 3M and Joy Apartments in Garapan. This prompted residents to call on DPS to increase village patrols.
This is not Mengidab’s first brush with the law. Last March, he was charged with stealing Marianas Variety’s service vehicle and unlawfully entering the establishment. Police said he confessed to committing the offense.
Mengidab was charged with burglary, vehicle theft, theft, and driving without a license.
The Superior Court later issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for arraignment on June 30. Bail was set at $5,000. He was arrested and appeared in a bail hearing on July 14 while in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
Represented by Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig, Mengidab had the bench warrant quashed and was ordered released.
