By Jacob Nakamura
(Tumon, Guam) Guam police officers Jerome Andrew and Ramon Sablan saved a family's life last night.
Dededo resident Anthony Tudela, 44, accused his wife of cheating Friday night, broke her phone, chased her to the car after she fled from him inside their bedroom, then repeatedly punched their son in the face when the son tried to stop him. This is according to a declaration of probable cause against Mr. Tudela by prosector Woodrow Pengelly. Mr. Andrew and Mr. Sablan responded to the residence, made the arrest, and prepared the statements for Mr. Pengelly.
Mr. Tudela was drunk, when he and his wife went to bed last night and he accused her of cheating on him. He demanded she unlocked her phone so he may review it, super ekgu style. He became belligerent, when she refused, got on top of her and began choking her with both his hands. He stopped, got up, then threw her phone twice against the wall.
"She grabbed her car keys and went outside to their car," and their son followed, according to Mr. Pengelly's declaration.
"You want to challenge me?" Mr. Tudela yelled at his son, before grabbing him "by his hair or shirt and began repeatedly punching his face." Mr. Tudela's wife used the opportunity to run into the house and call police.
Mr. Tudela then grabbed a pistol, his daughter describing to police that "he pulled back on the gun and it made a click sound," and threatened to shoot himself if she called the police.
Like a champion, his wife called anyway.
When police arrived around 11:30 p.m. last night, Mr. Tudela's wife told them she feared for her safety and her children's safety. Police observed that their son's eye was swollen shut, and he cried as he told police what happened. He was taken to the hospital following his statement to police.
Mr. Pengally is bringing felony family violence and strangulation charges, a felony charge of interfering with the reporting of family violence, a felonious restraint charge, and misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint and criminal mischief against Mr. Tudela.
Why no age given for the son.
In other areas (except Saipan) there is a liquor ban as this domestic violence and people grouping up are some of the reasons for the ban.