Counter-complaint leads to Sam Joyner’s arrest

Police also arrested on Wednesday night musician Samuel Joyner after the two merchant marines who allegedly beat him up have filed a counter-complaint against him.

Joyner, 57, was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

At a bail hearing yesterday, Superior Court associate judge Kenneth Govendo imposed a $20,000 cash bail for Joyner’s temporary release.

Preliminary hearing was set for May 22 at 9am.

Asked by Saipan Tribune for comment about the charges as he came out from the courtroom after the hearing, the musician said: “It’s all fabricated.”

Last May 6, police James Lydell Pringle and Quentin Howard Knights Jr. for allegedly beating up Joyner at the beach side of the Pacific Islands Club in San Antonio on April 27.

Pringle and Knights are civilians who have contracts to work on one of the preposition military ships anchored off Saipan’s shore. Last Friday, the two, who are out on bail, went to the Department of Public Safety to file a counter-complaint against Joyner.

Detective Peter A. Aldan stated in his report that based on the investigation on the counter-complaint, on the evening of April 26, Joyner was looking for his former girlfriend, Florence.

At the time, Florence was in one of the rooms at PIC after Pringle invited her for their drinking session.

Later, Joyner and Amanda Kaipat proceeded to PIC after he learned that Florence was at PIC.

Amanda stated that Joyner was very angry and when they arrived at PIC he took a brown champagne bottle from a backpack and stuffed it behind his back in his pants.

Joyner was allegedly uttering profanity and threatened he was going to beat up whoever that person was with his “girl.”

When Kaipat knocked on the door at room 125, Knights opened it. Joyner then barged in and asked for Florence.

When Knights told him Florence was not there, Joyner saw a person covered with a bed sheet on the bed. He pulled out the sheet and attempted to hit the person with his closed fist, but it turned out the person was Knight’s girlfriend.

Joyner left the room and stated he would look for Florence and Pringle.

Joyner spotted Pringle and Florence at the beach side, sitting on a beach chair. Florence was vomiting after drinking alcohol and Pringle was rubbing her back to comfort her.

Joyner allegedly approached and shouted “Can you explain to me why you are all hugged up at the beach with my girl?”

Pringle asked what was he talking about and stated what he was going to do.

Joyner then allegedly hit Pringle on the head with a hard object so he tackled the musician to the ground.

Joyner allegedly hit Pringle again on the side of his head with what appeared to be a bottle wrapped in tape.

Pringle claimed that he then punched the musician in self-defense. Florence ran back to room 125 where she called Knights to stop the fight.

Knights, Florence, and Kaipat all ran back to the beach.

Knights tried to take away the bottle from Joyner. When he failed, Knights kicked Joyner several times and finally got the bottle and threw it away.

Kaipat started beating Florence. Pringle and Knights stopped the two girls and Joyner ran away.

Knights and Pringle walked back to room 125 followed by Kaipat and Florence.

Later Joyner approached Florence and told her she was going home with him.

When Florence said “no” Joyner pushed her hard, causing her to fall to the ground.

Kaipat stopped Joyner and told him to leave because she will talk to Florence.

A security advisor arrived and called the police. Joyner left PIC.

Pringle suffered a small laceration on the back of head. The guard supervisor gave him medical assistance. When a police officer came, Pringle said he would not want to file a complaint.

Pringle, 27, and Knights, 23, were first arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

After the alleged beating, Joyner drove himself to the Commonwealth Health Center for abrasions and bruises to the right face and bruises to the left ribcage. He stated he probably has a fractured left rib.

The first police report stated that Pringle first attacked Joyner then later Knights joined up in the beating of the musician.