Police arrest fugitive, his wife for obstructing justice

Police arrested Friday a wanted ex-convict and also picked up his wife who was with him when officers raided a house in Dandan.

Jake Ito was brought to the Superior Court for burglary and theft. His wife, Julia E. Johanes, was taken to the court yesterday morning for obstructing justice and accessory after the fact.

Police said that Ito, Sharp Ngirutoi, Franco Edboy, and Donny Swei were the ones who burglarized the warehouses of the former MGM Garment Factory, stealing an air-compressor, three exhaust fans, and other metal items last April 5.

Police arrested Ngirutoi, Edboy, and Swei on April 16 in Chalan Kanoa. Police failed to locate Ito then.

On April 21, acting on tips that Ito was at his home in Chalan Kanoa, police proceeded to the house.

When they got there, Johanes told police that Ito was not there and that the officers could not go inside without a search warrant.

A police officer explained to Johanes that he has an arrest warrant and that she is obstructing his duties and may be harboring a fugitive.

Johanes then allowed the officers to look inside the house. The officers failed to find Ito.

Last Friday midnight, police officers responded to another tips that Ito was in a house in Dandan.

The officers searched a house upon permission from the owner and found Ito hiding behind the door of one of the rooms.

Officers also found Johanes inside the house. Both were arrested.