They were held on charges of illegal possession of controlled substance, and trafficking of controlled substance.
Associate Judge Perry B. Inos set a $30,000 cash bail each for Crisostimo and Tydingco.
Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke was appointed to represent Crisostimo, also known as Cal, while the court had yet to appoint an attorney for Tydingco.
Assistant Attorney General Shelly Neal represented the government.
Associate Judge David A. Wiseman issued the search and arrest orders against the defendants.
The targets of the search warrants were Crisostimo’s residence in Koblerville, and Tydingco’s residence in As Lito as well as his Toyota pick-up truck.
In a separate case, 37-year-old Sylvan Cabrera was arrested for possessing and trafficking of a controlled substance, according to Department of Public Safety acting spokesman PO2 Jason Tarkong.
Detective Steven A. Castro said the CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force conducted a recorded and controlled buy-walk operation against Crisostimo and Tydingco through a cooperating source on July 10, 2010.
The cooperating source negotiated to buy $50 worth of “ice” from Crisostimo who then instructed the cooperating source to meet in the parking lot of a video rental shop or a poker establishment in As Lito.
The cooperating source then met Tydingco who handed “ice” that later tested presumptive positive.
Castro said Crisostimo and Tydingco were “closely working together in drug activities.”
Crisostimo and Tydingco were also in possession of two pistol handguns, an unregistered rifle, and a DPS hand-held radio, Castro said.
Tarkong said Tydingco attempted to elude police, resulting in a car chase from Chalan Kanoa to As Lito.
“The pursuit lasted for several minutes as Tydingco recklessly drove his blue T-100 pick-up truck through public beaches and against on-coming traffic in an attempt to escape apprehension,” Tarkong said.
Tydingco was eventually apprehended at his house in As Lito which was already surrounded by detectives and patrol personnel.
Tydingco resisted arrest and struggled against police but was eventually secured in handcuffs, Tarkong said.
