Police “arrest” leaders to raise funds for a good cause

CNMI police officers began “arresting” elected officials on Capitol Hill before lunch Friday. Don’t worry. It wasn’t a real arrest for crimes.

The CNMI Department of Public Safety sprang a surprise fundraiser, where they rounded up senators, congressmen, and even the governor and lieutenant governor, brought them to the Multipurpose Center in Susupe. They had to pay “bail” to get out of “jail.”

Those proceeds reportedly will pay for uniforms and supplies for the DPS.

Sen. Celina Roberto Babauta said she was happy to pay her “bail,” of $550, only because it was going to a good cause. Ms. Babauta’s husband, Homeland Security Special Assistant Franklin Babauta, served as a police officer. She vowed jokingly, however, to find out who signed her “warrant of arrest.”

The going theory is that Rep. Edwin Propst put Ms. Babauta in fundraiser “jail.”

“I plead the Fifth,” Mr. Propst replied, when asked if he did.

According to Ms. Babauta, she had heard Gov. Arnold Palacios and Lt. Gov. David Apatang were “arrested,” but were allowed to post a “bond,” and coughed up cash in support of the police.

The lunch-time fundraiser had a few more fun dimensions to it.

Sen. Dennis Mendiola and Rep. Diego Vincent Camacho were “jailed” together, and spun a wheel of fortune that allowed them to dance and sing their way into lower bail amounts.

“I sang Hopelessly Devoted to You,” Mr. Mendiola said.

If anyone has video of any of these three “serving time,” singing, or dancing, please send them to us.