An ex-convict who allegedly had a 40-minute car chase with police and was charged with several traffic citations, but failed to appear at his arraignment was arrested yesterday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The CNMI Marshal Service Division served the bench warrant on Vincent San Nicolas Norita when he showed up at the Superior Court yesterday, Saipan Tribune learned.<\/p>\n
Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja issued the bench warrant in the amount of $5,000 after Norita failed to appear at his arraignment last Jan. 12.<\/p>\n
At a bench warrant hearing yesterday afternoon, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho denied assistant public defender Michael Sato\u2019s request to quash the bench warrant.<\/p>\n
Camacho believes that Norita is a flight risk and a danger to the community.<\/p>\n
He noted that Norita is accused of speeding and eluding police officers while traveling from Chalan Laulau to Garapan to Tanapag to Koblerville.<\/p>\n
The judge said Norita may file a motion to modify bail.<\/p>\n
Norita, through counsel, entered a not-guilty plea.<\/p>\n
A change of plea hearing will be held on March 9, 2017, at 1:30pm.<\/p>\n
At the hearing yesterday, Sato argued that Norita\u2019s failure to appear at his arraignment was a misunderstanding on the counsel\u2019s and on defendant\u2019s part considering that the government already dismissed the criminal charges against the defendant.<\/p>\n
Assistant attorney general Jonathan Glass Jr., counsel for the government, opposed Sato\u2019s request, pointing out that Norita is a flight risk as one of the charges is eluding police officers.<\/p>\n
Sato said the government should treat Norita like anybody else as the government has not been opposed quashing bench warrants.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes me wonder what\u2019s the motive? I\u2019m quite concerned about it,\u201d Sato said.<\/p>\n
Glass said there is nothing different in this case.<\/p>\n
The Office of the Attorney General recently charged Norita with eluding police officers, reckless driving, speeding, running a red light, failure to follow traffic signs, and unsafe passing.<\/p>\n
The OAG dismissed the criminal charges last month.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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 beside the overturned car.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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