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After 6 months on the run, alleged drug dealer arrested

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of violating local drug laws last year was arrested by police last week. The man, Victor Saipologa fled from police officers during a traffic stop, however, he was arrested by police last week after he was served with a copy of the arrest warrant.  

Saipologa made his initial appearance before Judge Elvis P. Patea last week. He is representing by Assistant Public Defender Bob Stuart, while prosecuting the case is Assistant Attorney General Laura Garvey.

Saipologa is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine; and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine with intent to distribute; and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, all unclassified felonies

Patea established bail at $20,000 for Saipologa

Preliminary examination (PX) is set for Thursday of next week.

THE CASE

The government claims that on Dec. 7, 2019 at about 5:50p.m, two police officers who were patrolling the public highway on the west side received a radio transmission from another patrol car stating that they were in a hot pursuit of a vehicle and were heading straight to the road going to the Aute Pool Hall.

The patrolling officers who received the radio transmission responded and headed to the area where the Aute Pool Hall is located. As the police officers approached the vehicles that were parked behind the dirt road going to the Aute, a Nissan pick-up truck with no license plates backed up on the dirt road and almost struck the police unit.

The pick up truck then sped away at a high rate of speed heading straight to the back of the Aute. One of the police units continued to pursue the vehicle at a very high rate of speed until they reached a dead end. Two males were seen exiting the truck and fleeing on foot towards the ‘asuemu area’ (asphalt).

The two police officers pursued the two males on foot and while searching for them police allegedly heard gunshots coming from an area nearby.

They continued to search for the two males, but only found one of them hiding inside a bushy area and immediately apprehended him. Officers discovered two cut up straws containing white crystalline substance and cash on him.

A search was conducted on the vehicle for further illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia and police discovered 61 clear, cut up straws (one inch) containing white crystalline substance; a simoi size Ziploc baggie containing a substantial amount of white crystalline substance; a hand rolled marijuana joint; and a huge amount of cash discovered inside a back bag found inside the vehicle.

The government claims that the vehicle was an old beat up truck, no license plate and keys were not in the ignition, the vehicle was left at the scene.

The male that was found was transported to the TPS for questioning. He told police that everything that was discovered inside the vehicle belonged to the person who drove the vehicle, which was the defendant in this case.

According to the government, the co-defendant was in the passenger seat while Saipologa was the driver of the vehicle.

The co-defendant further stated that the two cut up straws that were discovered by police when they apprehended him was given to him by Saipologa for fixing his vehicle.

The white crystalline substance inside the two cut up straws found in the co-defendant’s possession was tested and turned out positive for methamphetamine.

Officers also tested drugs that were discovered inside the vehicle and they turned out positive for methamphetamine and marijuana.

The second male, Saipologa, the defendant, was finally arrested by police last week and was served with a copy of the arrest warrant, after 6 months on the run.