HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A drug raid of a Sinajana residence resulted in the arrest of a man suspected of selling methamphetamine and two women accused of child abuse.
On March 13, the Guam Police Department executed a search warrant at Roque Evangelista Mendiola II’s residence in Sinajana. Mendiola was suspected of selling and distributing methamphetamine, according to a magistrate’s complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam.
Mendiola was found by police to be in a bedroom, where they saw a glass pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue and a baggie of suspected meth on a table by the bed.
“The officer observed that the defendant appeared to display long-term stimulant type of drug use – widened eyes, sunken cheeks, rigid/tightened body build and constant shivering despite the sunlight,” the complaint stated.
A field test of the substances yielded a presumptive positive for methamphetamine, the complaint stated, adding that there were multiple items of drug paraphernalia found throughout the residence.
When interviewed by GPD, Mendiola allegedly told police he “sold drugs to buy food and drinks.” He also said the drugs found in the bedroom were “probably” his, according to the complaint.
Mendiola was charged with possession with intent to deliver a Schedule II controlled substance as a first-degree felony and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance as a third-degree felony. Mendiola was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
Child abuse charge
Mendiola told police there were others living in his residence who were also interviewed and implicated Mendiola in the alleged selling and distribution of meth.
According to court documents, two women, Tonisha Rosario and Mareena Alexis Flores and their sons, an 11-year-old and a 7-year-old, were found in the residence.
The 11-year-old was in an interior storage room, while the 7-year-old was with Rosario in a bedroom where methamphetamine was also found. Rosario, Flores and the minors were then taken to GPD’s Juvenile Investigations Section for an interview.
According to court documents, Flores during her interview was advised of and waived her Miranda Rights before detailing Mendiola was her uncle, and she was at the residence because her car died and stayed there until Mendiola’s friend was able to fix it on the evening of March 12.
Flores allegedly admitted she purchased and smoked meth while at Mendiola’s residence and instructed the 11-year-old minor to sleep in the living room while she was outside in the garage area.
The 11-year-old reported to police he first went to Mendiola’s residence on Dec. 27, 2023, where he said he had seen adults in the residence using drugs which he called “cocaine.” The minor detailed that he saw the adults smoking “a white powdery substance that looks like sugar” with glass pipes and a “glass tube-y thing with water.”
According to court documents, the minor said he and the 7-year-old were always told to stay in a room while the adults, which included Rosario, were doing drugs. Both of the minors had seen the drug activity after “accidentally” going out of the room when looking for food and drinks.
Rosario was interviewed and explained she and her 7-year-old son had been staying at Mendiola’s residence for the past two weeks and that she was aware of the drug activities occurring. Rosario further admitted that she smokes marijuana or meth but denied smoking in front of her son.
According to the complaint, if Rosario wasn’t around, the 11-year-old would watch her son, and they would stay either in a bedroom or the bathroom. The 7-year-old was also not going to school.
The 7-year-old, when interviewed by police, mentioned “that the last time he ate was a long time ago and that he does not have any food or snacks at his house.”
“He also stated that he showered last week,” according to the complaint, adding he always sees Rosario’s friends come to the house and smoke a “shiny glass thing.”
Rosario’s son also stated his mom’s friends are “mean to him” and that Rosario allegedly made him smoke marijuana.
“Victim 2 stated his mom would wrap paper and make him smoke weed for about three days. He stated, ‘It taste good. I quit smoking weed already,’” the complaint stated.
“He said that he is always left alone, and that ‘a lot of times’ he doesn’t see his mom,” the complaint added.
Flores and Rosario were charged with child abuse as third-degree felonies.
Flores’ charges, however, were dismissed without prejudice during her magistrate hearing March 14. Rosario was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, according to the Office of the Attorney General’s magistrate summary report.
Roque Mendiola
Tonisha Rosario
Mareena Flores
