The Guam Police Department has arrested one of its own officers in connection with the fatal hit-and-run that killed bicyclist John Carlos Daniel Yangco Haas on Nov. 30. Police Chief Stephen Ignacio confirmed that the driver was identified as off-duty officer Derrick Atan. Haas died from blunt force trauma sustained in the crash, Ignacio said.
Witnesses previously described an orange Ford F-150 pickup fleeing the scene, prompting an all-points bulletin to be issued. Later that same evening, Dededo precinct officers responded to a separate crash on Route 1 near Batulo Road involving an orange Ford F-150 driven by Atan. Atan told officers he swerved to avoid another vehicle pulling out of Batulo Road, ran off the roadway and struck a utility pole.
Ignacio said responding officers noted inconsistencies between Atan’s account and the physical evidence at the scene. Investigators later determined Atan’s truck matched the BOLO description from the Tamuning hit-and-run. Although initially released as evidence was collected, police later recovered additional evidence, reviewed surveillance video and gathered eyewitness statements linking Atan to the fatal crash. Officers also found damage to Atan’s vehicle that was not consistent with his version of events and discovered he was in possession of an unregistered firearm.
Atan was arrested on Dec. 4 on 19 charges, including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene with injuries, falsifying evidence, making a false report, possession of an unregistered firearm, negligent homicide, reckless driving, driving while impaired, vehicular negligence and speeding. He was placed on administrative leave, booked and confined as the investigation continues. Ignacio called the incident “tragic” and stressed it underscores the dangers of impaired driving. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a police officer or any other person — you should not drink and drive,” he said.