WHEN freelance photographer David Butterfield walked out of Kanoa Resort, a government-designated quarantine facility, on Oct. 17, he was arrested the next day on charges of obstruction of justice and public nuisance. After he was detained at the Department of Corrections for a few hours, he was brought back to Kanoa Resort in the evening of Oct. 18.
According to documents obtained by Variety, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. issued an isolation order against Butterfield and ordered that he remain in quarantine at Kanoa Resort for 10 more days or until Oct. 28.
But Butterfield said he was released on Oct. 22, his original 10th day of quarantine after arriving from Guam on Oct. 12.
In a message to Variety he said, “The reality is that they had no authority to order another 10 days” of quarantine.
Butterfield added that he is considering all his legal options.
He reiterated that he was tested when he arrived on Saipan last week and that he took a second test on the fifth day, Sunday, Oct. 17.
“Both results were negative,” he said, but he was told that he needed to stay for five more days at Kanoa Resort because he was unvaccinated.
“I don’t have any symptoms,” he said. “There’s no reason for them to keep me [at Kanoa] for another week.”
Butterfield also said that he had recovered from Covid-19.
Citing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and privacy rights of individuals, CHCC declined to provide any status update on Butterfield’s quarantine protocol violations.
Police report
The Department of Public Safety on Friday issued the following statement:
“On Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, at about 9:08 a.m., DPS received a call reporting a quarantine violator at the Kanoa Resort, in the village of Chalan Kanoa.
“A transport and tracking team from the Covid-19 Task Force was immediately sent to check on the suspect’s apartment. The team was notified that the suspect left his apartment in his vehicle a gray Honda SUV. All units were notified.
“A nearby unit spotted the suspect’s vehicle in the Chinatown area heading towards Middle Road. An officer conducted a violator stop on the vehicle. A Covid-19 Task Force personnel approached the suspect’s driver-side window, but the suspect refused to comply.
“The suspect exited his vehicle and walked towards the Covid-19 transport vehicle and sat down in the parking lot. When officers asked the suspect to stand he refused and proceeded to [lie down] in the middle of the parking lot. The suspect continued to refuse to comply.
“Officers then arrested David Butterfield for nuisance. He was brought to Kanoa Resort for clearance before being transported to the Department of Corrections to be booked and detained.
“The Department of Public Safety highly encourages the public to call 911 anytime to report a crime, emergency, or disturbance. Our officers are here to keep you and your family safe.”
