Sammy Kapileo’s blue Hyundai Tucson is towed from the parking lot of Unites States Courthouse in Gualo Rai on Thursday.
A MAN is facing several charges after he tried to elude a police officer who pulled him over for a traffic violation on Middle Road in Gualo Rai on Thursday.
The Department of Public Safety has filed a complaint accusing Sammy Kapileo, 49, of assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, obstruction of justice, vandalism, fleeing to elude police officers, resisting arrest and reckless driving.
On Friday, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho imposed a $25,000 bail on Kapileo, who was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after the hearing. He was ordered to return to court at 10 a.m. on May 24, 2024 for a preliminary hearing.
Kapileo was arrested at 8:33 a.m. Thursday in an incident that began with a traffic violator stop in front of the NMI Museum in Garapan.
According to Detective Daniel K. Kaipat, Kapileo, who drove a blue Hyundai Tucson, was pulled over by Police Officer Kristen Salas for making an unsafe lane change to the inner southbound lane on Middle Road.
Kapileo stopped in front of the United States Courthouse and when Salas approached him, he yelled at her asking, “What? What do you mean unsafe? Did any one get hurt? Why did you stop me?”
Salas asked for Kapileo’s driver’s license and car registration, but he drove away to the courthouse’s parking lot and parked his car.
At this juncture, Police Officers Cris Deleon Guerrero and Sgt. Michael Langdon arrived at the scene. They approached Kapileo who backed up his vehicle, hitting Salas’ police car. This prompted Deleon Guerrero to try to open Kapileo’s front door to stop him. Kapileo backed up again knocking Deleon Guerrero to the ground, then drove off before stopping again in front of the courthouse.
DPS Highway Patrol Division supervisor Sgt. Adrian Mendiola, arrived at the scene, approached Kapileo and asked for his car registration. Kapileo handed the registration to Mendiola who gave it to Salas.
Mendiola asked Kapileo to step out of his car but Kapileo refused, rolled up his window and shouted at Mendiola.
When he rolled down his window, Mendiola tried to open the door, but Kapileo backed up again into Salas’ vehicle then drove forward.
Deleon Guerrero tried to open Kapileo’s passenger door, but Kapileo backed up again and hit another car.
This prompted the police officers to draw their firearms and told Kapileo to stop, but Kapileo did not comply. He instead drove faster, almost hitting the police officers. He was finally arrested when he stopped his car.
