Failure to appear in traffic case results in a warrant for arrest
An ex-convict who reportedly engaged police officers in a 40-minute car chase was charged with several traffic citations but failed to appear at his arraignment yesterday.
That prompted Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert Naraja to issue a bench warrant in the amount of $5,000 against the suspect, Vincent San Nicolas Norita.
The Office of the Attorney General charged Norita with eluding a police officer, reckless driving, speeding, running a red light, failure to follow traffic signs, and unsafe passing.
Eluding and reckless driving have the maximum penalty each of six months imprisonment. The remaining charges are all payable fines, Saipan Tribune learned.
It was Norita who was allegedly involved in a car chase that ended when his car hit an embankment and overturned in Koblerville on the evening of Dec. 9, 2016.
The OAG dismissed without prejudice last month the car-chase charges against Norita. Dismissal without prejudice means the government may re-file the case in the future. Assistant attorney general Jonathan Robert Glass Jr. stated at that time that the case is still being investigated.
The Department of Public Safety has yet to provide the OAG with a report about the car chase.
The car chase went viral after a bystander took a video of a police officer, who appeared to be repeatedly hitting the suspect, Norita, with a baton or stick as he lay on the ground.
Police said that Norita’s car, a white 2011 Toyota Yaris four-door sedan with license plate ADZ-841 was speeding and nearly hit several pedestrians during a pursuit that happened in the evening last Dec. 9.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services disclosed that upon medics’ assessment at the scene, the driver, Norita, stated he had pain on the back of his right shoulder blade.
Interesting the amount of ‘bail’ imposed, usually only $100 bail for a no show traffic violation while this court has imposed a $1k bail for each ticket.
Could it be that this judge does not agree with the AG’s refusal to prosecute this career criminal in the more serious charges in attempts to also protect the cop(s) involved in questionable actions in possibly abusing this criminals rights?
Any future charges in the “car chase” will most likely go the same direction as Pres-elect trumps tax return disclosure, “under audit” while this case is “under investigation”
Years ago (under a different AG) a group of teens abducted a school girl and took her to an abandoned house and raped her. Another youth was involved as a look out and admitted his involvement and was to testify against his companions.
This case was also dismissed without prejudice against the others that had “distinctive” family names, to my knowledge these cases never did end up being prosecuted, they all just walked EXCEPT for the person who admitted as being the look out, he went to prison.
It would seem on the surface that this case will be the same results due to this career criminal’s family name and most likely the names of the cops involved in a possibly police brutality and human rights violations that all info would come out if the “chase case” went to trial.
$5,000 only! Isn’t this the second time he has failed to appear for his court arraignment?