American nabbed for allegedly threatening doctor in fender bender case

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City lawmen arrested on Saturday afternoon a retired American Army man who allegedly threatened to harm a dentist over a fender bender inside the University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Diliman.

The Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU) took into custody Dennis Graves, 41, of Angeles City, after he introduced himself as a former military man and allegedly threatened to use his training to hurt 53-year-old dentist Manuel Reyes Jr.

As of Sunday, Graves remained in detention at the QCPD-CIDU holding cell and is set to be charged in the city prosecutor’s office.

According to a report by Police Officer 3 Jaime De Jesus, case investigator, the incident started at around noon Saturday along Ramon Magsaysay Street inside the UP Campus in Diliman. Reyes was with his family aboard a Honda Accord when a white Kia Rio suddenly hit his car.

De Jesus said that Reyes immediately got off his car to check the damage and ask the driver of the other vehicle, later identified as Graves, not to drive away and wait for the arrival of a traffic investigator. But instead of listening, Graves allegedly insulted Reyes and challenged him to a fight.

Graves further informed the dentist that he was a retired member of the US army and then allegedly threatened to hurt Reyes. Scared by the threat, Reyes immediately sought the help of the UP police and walked away from the American national but was hounded by the foreigner who allegedly continued to threaten him with harm.

Responding personnel of the UP police pacified Graves until an investigator from the QCPD traffic sector based in Camp Karingal arrived. The parties to the fender bender were then brought to Camp Karingal where the dentist filed complaints of threat and reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property against the American national.

Graves was arrested by QCPD-CIDU operatives based on Reyes’ threat complaint.

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