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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| US Navy LTC Leaps to Death after Philippine Drug Bust |
| 2010-12-28 |
| A U.S. naval officer leaped to his death at the Philippines' main airport Monday shortly after being caught with a sachet of cocaine, police and embassy officials said. Lieutenant Commander Scintar Mejia, 35, died from his fall after being caught with a small amount cocaine at Manila International Airport late Sunday, said Superintendent Manuel Pintado, an official of the airport police unit. Mejia, who is of Filipino descent, was found carrying the cocaine during a security search just before he was to depart for Los Angeles, said Pintado. "He became unruly, he seemed intoxicated. He threw the sachet at the police so we apprehended him and brought him to airport security headquarters," Pintado told AFP. The suspect appeared to have calmed down and was interviewed by representatives of the U.S. embassy and U.S. Navy officials, the superintendent added. While being held overnight at the airport office, Mejia was allowed to go to a bathroom but as he was being led out, he broke away from his escort and jumped off a 10-foot high balcony and landed on his head. He was rushed to a hospital but died shortly afterwards, Pintado said, adding he could not say if Mejia wanted to commit suicide or was trying to escape. The U.S. embassy said it was aware of the "tragic incident" and was awaiting further details from local police. The details of the case remain unclear as Mejia had only been in the country for a day, Pintado said, adding that it was difficult to obtain cocaine in Manila. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #14 You nailed it Joseph, IF the report can be believed. |
| Posted by: Flapper Scourge of the Algonquins 2010-12-28 20:09 |
| #13 Wehell, his USN career was essentially over, be it by the PHIL LEGAL-PRISON SYSTEM OR BY THE USDOD. AFAIK, since the early 1980's the Phil Govt has taken a HARDER LINE on Drug Smuggling, etc. thru their Air-Sea Ports, espec from Filipinos. This LTC would prob had faced several years in a Phil Prison inclusive or exclusive of USDOD prosecution + dishonorable discharge for the smuggling. AND, iff he did end up in local Phil Prison, he likley also faced being PDeniably killed in same by his Local, Regional Underworld = Mafia connections. IOW, THE LTC CHOSE TO COMMIT SELF-SUICIDE NOW THAN BE KILLED LATER. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-12-28 19:44 |
| #12 'Moose, as I told my son when he was in the Marines and making fun of squids: It's a long freaking swim to wherever you are going, especially if you are in full battle gear. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2010-12-28 13:43 |
| #11 Apologies to all who caught my LTC gaffe. I confess that the arcane ways of the Squid rank structure have long baffled me. I am generally distrustful of pools of water adequate to taking a bath, much less those large enough to float in. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-12-28 13:23 |
| #10 1. The Navy still does unannounced urinalysis testing. 2. The Navy and the Marines still conduct unannounced safety-and-health inspections of berthing and work areas. 3. Last I checked, however, the Navy doesn't conduct unannounced urinalysis or safety-and-health inspections of its personnel on leave, especially while said personnel are in a foreign country. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-12-28 12:56 |
| #9 Are we thinking cover-up? I am. FIlipino police just so happen to lose him over a 10ft drop where he falls and lands head-first? Sounds more like he was thrown off. |
| Posted by: Charles 2010-12-28 12:28 |
| #8 Thanks AA5839. My hackles went up a soon as I saw the headline. Besides, an Army/Air Force/Marine LTC is an O-5, not an O-4. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2010-12-28 12:04 |
| #7 This does not sound right. I think there is another angle to the story. Besoeker I am pretty sure that they are still doing wiz-quiz's in all branches of the service and I would be surprised if a LCDR was using. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2010-12-28 11:07 |
| #6 [pedantic] LTC is Lt. Colonel. Lt. Commander is LCDR. [/pedantic] |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2010-12-28 09:58 |
| #5 just heard an update on the radio. It was NOT cocaine. Story stinks to high hell |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-12-28 09:41 |
| #4 Flips can be very unpredictable in good and bad ways, and I am not surprised at about anything any of them do. I just shake my head at the missed opportunity for the Philippines with the closures of Subic Bay Naval Base, to set up a world class deep water shipyard in its place, that would have made them a huge maritime transshipment point. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-12-28 09:33 |
| #3 This story has a bad smell to it. Not believable. |
| Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2010-12-28 06:05 |
| #2 Has the Navy or his command stopped conducting unannounced urinalysis testing? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-12-28 04:30 |
| #1 An O-4 caught with drugs? He didn't have much to look forward to ..... |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2010-12-28 00:50 |