Wanted men – accused of carjacking from woman at gunpoint – arrested after Tamuning foot pursuit

Guam police arrested two wanted men who allegedly walked up to a woman sitting alone in her car at the Oka Payless, pointed a gun at her, then stole her family’s car. The two men were arrested for a string of crimes, though a news release from the Guam Police Department about the March 19, 2024 incident does not explain a second set of the arresting charges for each of the two criminal defendants. Pending magistrates reports may provide further detail about these crimes. Both men have lengthy histories of alleged criminal activity.

John Peter “Ding” Babauta, Jr., 26, and Timothy Tedtaotao Serebour, 25, allegedly strolled into the Payless parking lot at 5:30 p.m. last night after a man and his daughter went into the store. Her mother stayed in the car with the windows down, according to the Guam Police Department news release.

Mr. Babauta allegedly approached the car claiming it was stolen. “Despite mom’s explanation that he is mistaken Babauta and another suspect, Timothy Tedtaotao Serebour, threatened the family with a gun and carjacked the vehicle Tacoma to which they complied,” the release states.

Police responded to the family’s call immediately and ‘saturated’ the vicinity with officers on foot and in vehicles until they located the stolen car at Enacia Condos, Tamuning.

“Serebour was apprehended after a foot pursuit and Babauta was found directly behind the condo attempting to conceal himself,” the release states.

Mr. Serebour was arrested for robbery, carjacking, child abuse, resisting arrest, possession of a firearm without a valid identification, and use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

Mr. Babauta was arrested for carjacking, robbery, terrorizing, burglary, and child abuse.

Police confiscated the gun. The car was processed and returned to the family.

Second set of cases

According to the GPD news release, both men were wanted for prior open cases involving a string of crimes.

Mr. Babauta was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, destroying evidence, three theft of property incidents, criminal mischief, harassment, family violence, and fraudulent use of credit cards.

Mr. Serebour was arrested for assault, family violence, and possession of a controlled substance.

The cases have been forward to the Office of the Attorney General of Guam for prosecution.

Criminal history

Mr. Serebour has a history of charges involving major violent crimes. According to confinement information, he was confined on August 31, 2020 for aggravated assault, assault, strangulation, family violence, felonious restraint, and interfering with the reporting of family violence. Despite the severity of the charges, a judge released him back into the community on December 18, 2020.

On January 1 last year he again was confined for felonious restraint, family violence, violation of a court order, and possession of a controlled substance. He was released by a judge one month later.

Mr. Babauta’s criminal history of alleged violence and other crimes is longer. On August 1, 2017 he was confined for assault, terrorizing, and family violence. A judge released him two days later.

In less than a year he allegedly violated conditions of his release, and a bench warrant was issued. He was caught following an alleged pursuit and confined on the anniversary of his 2017 release for theft of a motor vehicle, packing a passenger on a moped, and resisting arrest. Again, a judge released him, this time 27 days after his confinement.

Mr. Babauta’s troubles with the law trended with a romance with the Department of Corrections in August. Within a year of his August 2018 confinement, he again was accused of violating the conditions of his release and again was confined on August 1, this time in 2019. And, again, his flirtation with the law lasted only days, with a judge releasing him on August 13, 2019.

Bench warrants for the prior cases again were issued in early 2021 and he was confined on March 3, 2021, only to be released less than one week later.

Then, on December 14, 2023, he was arrested for stalking, terrorizing, and family violence. A judge released him from jail one week later, just in time for Christmas.