[US] Sgt Mendiola drew gun on wife in front of officers

[Saipan is capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands]


...Suddenly, Sgt. Mendiola allegedly charged, drew his service pistol and pointed it at point blank range at the victim's face. A struggle then ensued between Sgt. Mendiola and one responding police officer... The victim said she got bruises in the eye area caused by the gun's barrel being pushed into her face...

Police sergeant nabbed for alleged murder try
Saipan Tribune, Micronesia
By Ferdie de la Torre
An off-duty police sergeant was arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at his common-law wife and threatening to kill her outside a karaoke establishment in Rota Wednesday night. Sgt. Steve M. Mendiola, 38, also allegedly struggled with a responding police officer who tried to disarm him. Mendiola was reportedly drunk at the time. The suspect was arrested for attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace... Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo imposed a $100,000 cash bail for the officer's temporary liberty. At yesterday's hearing, associate judge David A. Wiseman allowed the temporary release of Mendiola to a third party custodian on a $ 100,000 property bond plus many other conditions... Officers heard a woman shouting profanities so they inspected the parking area of Justice Bar and Grill where they observed the off-duty Sgt. Mendiola standing next to a car. Mendiola's common-law wife was lying on the ground and her friend, Claudia B. Masga, was standing near her... The victim appeared to be having difficulty breathing and was coughing. She told the responding officers that Sgt. Mendiola twisted her arm and threatened he would kill her, her children, then himself. The victim again shouted profanities at the defendant, who was with one of the officers. The victim then had an asthma attack and "was in and out of consciousness," police said. Suddenly, Sgt. Mendiola allegedly charged, drew his service pistol and pointed it at point blank range at the victim's face. A struggle then ensued between Sgt. Mendiola and one responding police officer, according to DPS spokesperson Lei Ogumoro, citing the police report... The following day, during an interview with a detective, the victim said she and Masga had gone to the Justice Bar and Grill to sing karaoke. As they were leaving the establishment, the victim said the next thing she remembers was that she was on the ground kicking Mendiola and that there was a gun barrel to her head. The victim said she got bruises in the eye area caused by the gun's barrel being pushed into her face.