Guam Superior Court denies Tedtaotao's motion to suppress evidence in CF0316-25

On August 14, 2025, Superior Court Judge Vernon P. Perez denied the Motion to Suppress filed by defendant Chris Junior Anderson Tedtaotao in Criminal Case No. CF0316-25 after hearing testimony from Guam Police Department officers and reviewing the record.

The court said officers had reasonable suspicion to attempt a traffic stop after identifying a white 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe linked by a Facebook post and a confidential informant to the defendant's acquaintance, discovering the vehicle had no visible front license plate and that its insurance had expired, and observing the driver commit multiple traffic violations while eluding police. "Therefore, the Court DENIES Defendant's Motion to Suppress," the written Decision and Order states.

The motion followed an indictment filed May 16, 2025 that charges Tedtaotao with: (1) possession of a concealed firearm (third-degree felony); (2) possession of a firearm without a firearms identification card (third-degree felony); (3) possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (third-degree felony); (4) theft by receiving a stolen firearm (third-degree felony); (5) impersonating a police officer (misdemeanor); (6) eluding a police officer (misdemeanor); and (7) display of blue lights (violation). The defendant asserted and waived speedy-trial rights at different points in the case; the motion to suppress was filed July 24, 2025, and the government filed its opposition on Aug. 6, 2025.

Officer Eugenius K. Pewtress and Detective Joe G. Nucum testified that an anonymous post in a Facebook group included a photograph of the Tahoe (license plate MZ7200) and reported that the vehicle was using blue lights to pull people over. After running the plate, Officer Pewtress determined the Tahoe was registered to Cathy Nakamura Cruz and that the vehicle's insurance had expired in October 2024. The officers said they later observed the Tahoe at MJ Market, noticed it had dark tint, and that it motored out of the lot without an attached front license plate.

Detective Nucum activated lights and siren to effectuate a stop at Chalan Pago Familia Mart; the operator accelerated and drove at a high rate of speed, made unsafe lane changes, bypassed stopped traffic, and ran multiple red lights while officers followed with lights and sirens activated. Officers testified the driver's conduct continued to pose public-safety risks and that a pedestrian ran across the street to avoid being hit. The vehicle eventually stopped after being cut off near Happy Mart and the Lumpia House.

Officers approached with weapons drawn, removed and handcuffed the defendant after unlocking the door, and swept the car to ensure no other occupants were present. They observed a clear glass pipe with a bulbous end consistent with methamphetamine, and later recovered additional suspected methamphetamine, a scale, and a firearm under the front passenger seat. A front license plate was later located inside the vehicle on the dashboard.

In written findings the court reviewed Fourth Amendment standards made applicable to Guam via the Organic Act and applied Guam statutes governing license plates and mandatory insurance (16 G.C.A. a7 7129(a)-(c); 16 G.C.A. a7a7 19102, 19104). The court cited People v. Chargualaf, People v. Johnson, People v. Mansapit, Whren v. United States, and other authorities in concluding that the totality of the circumstances provided the officers an objectively reasonable basis to attempt a stop and to detain the vehicle once the operator committed traffic violations and then eluded police. The court emphasized that the lawfulness of a stop does not turn on an officer's subjective motivations.

Because the court denied suppression, the evidence recovered during the stop remains available for use at trial. Judge Perez set jury selection and trial for September 12, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., and scheduled a pre-trial conference for September 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

The Decision and Order was signed by the Honorable Vernon P. Perez, Judge of the Superior Court of Guam.