A disgruntled former disc jockey of Power 99 Studio at Paseo de Marianas in western Garapan allegedly set fire to the company's vehicle early yesterday morning.
Aziz Mettao, 27, also known as Tayo, was arrested after a witness allegedly saw him fleeing from the burning car.
The vehicle-a Hyundai Tucson with license plate ADY-761-sustained extensive damage inside. The window glasses were shattered and the upper portion of the front windshield had cracks.
A firefighter extinguished the blaze after a few minutes.
The Department of Public Safety has yet to release information about the incident.
Saipan Tribune learned that a staff of Power 99 who was on duty at the time managed to record a video of the burning vehicle that was parked on the side of the building occupied by the radio station.
Power 99 general manager Tina Palacios said the car fortunately did not explode although it was filled with gas and that no one was hurt.
Palacios said the incident happened between 3:30am to 4am while DJ Ghelmark Cabrera was on duty.
Palacios said that when Cabrera noticed the burning car he immediately ran outside and drove his vehicle to a safer place. Cabrera's vehicle was parked next to the burning Hyundai Tucson.
A security guard then called 911. A firefighter extinguished the blaze after a few minutes by spraying hose inside the vehicle.
Allegedly, Mettao first threw a brick to open the glass window of the vehicle. He then threw a Molotov cocktail inside the vehicle, triggering a fire.
Mettao allegedly threw another molotov cocktail into the vehicle but it hit the car's body and bounced, hitting him on the head and causing his shirt to catch fire.
Palacios said he heard that Mettao was running as he was burning.
Palacios said that police officers later arrested Mettao, who was hiding in the house of his uncle near the area.
Another person told Saipan Tribune that it was actually Mettao's first throw of the molotov that bounced.
Palacios said that Mettao worked for Power 99 for almost a year and that he was a good DJ. She said they could not get along, however, so she let him go.
In fact, she said, the company filed a criminal trespass complaint against Mettao last Aug. 30 after he went inside the office and threatened an employee.
Palacios said that Mettao had just been arrested on Thursday, after engaging in a fight at a bar in western Garapan.
Home | Weather | Advertising | Classifieds | Subscription | Contact
Us | About Us | Archives
©2006 Saipan Tribune. All Rights Reserved
