Woman with BAC of .152 Kills Police Officer!
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to kill him. I was just drunk." —Charmi Aizawa Retuyan
Family mourns
fallen officer
Driver charged
with vehicular manslaughter
The
family of Frank Smith, the Guam Police Department officer killed while on
duty Sunday morning, leaned on each other as they exited Superior Court
Judge Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson's courtroom yesterday.
The family watched as the woman arrested in connection with the death, Charmi Aizawa Retuyan, was officially charged and ordered to be held on $250,000 cash bail.
Outside the courtroom Frank Smith's wife, Tishawna Smith, sobbing, described the man she loved."He was a good man. He was a loving man. He enjoyed his work and loved his family. He was a jokester. He loved life. He loved his job so much. He was out there to protect people like (Retuyan)," Tishawna Smith said.
Frank Smith was responding to a riot call at a nearby bar when his motorcycle was struck by Retuyan, who was allegedly under the influence when she failed to yield in front of the Fiesta Hotel, then fled the scene.
According to court documents, Retuyan had a blood alcohol level of .152 when she was arrested [emphasis added], exceeding the legal limit of .08.
Chief prosecutor Phil Tydingco said the case will be a priority.
"All homicide cases are a priority to our office. Certainly this has special significance to us because it's, like, one of our own," Tydingco said. "He was killed in the line of duty, trying to protect us. We take that very seriously and we are going to do our best to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."
Frank Smith's brother, Gerald Smith, hoped that people would remember his brother .
"I just hope everyone will honor my brother," said Gerald Smith as he was overcome by tears. "He was courageous. He was committed to his work and saving the public."
Frank Smith's fellow officers at the Tamuning/Tumon precinct will be honoring their fallen comrade. The officers were setting up a memorial at the precinct yesterday afternoon.
Frank Smith's supervisor, Sgt. Rock Anciano, described Frank Smith, or "Smitty," as he was known around the precinct, as an exceptional officer who dedicated 10 years of his life to the force.
"Anytime I needed something done out here, like a robbery would take place or a major crime, he was my go-to man," Anciano said.
Anciano said that Frank Smith had been pivotal in the Dededo drug bust and arrest of Raymond Duenas that took place earlier this year. The sergeant said that Frank Smith was going to be up for Officer of the Year this year and the plans for the nomination will most likely go forward.
Officer Merci Grino, administration officer at the precinct, recalled the days before Frank Smith officially became an officer, when he went on ride-alongs with her because he was so passionate about law enforcement.
Grino also mentioned how much her fallen comrade loved riding his motorcycle.
"He loved being on a bike. The bike he had, he started that from scratch. He fixed that bike up. He learned how to fix it because he wanted one so bad because the department couldn't issue it at the time," Grino said.
The officer hoped that the death of her peer would not be in vain.
"I wish that the public would learn from this. Before you get into a car after having even one beer, think of the consequences. It didn't have to happen," Grino said.
Anciano said that anyone wishing to help the family can drop off donations at the precinct, and they will pass them along. The sergeant said a number of people already had and they were thankful for the community's support.
"Pray for him. Pray for his family and his kids especially," Tishawna Smith said.
END
SOURCE: http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080101/NEWS01/801010301/1002
I scanned the following article from the December 31,2007 Pacific Daily News:
