Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who is on probation for his involvement in a stealing and burglary case five years ago is back in court this week after he was arrested at the scene of the alleged crime.

During his arrest, police discovered drugs inside his bag

Neil Olosega made his initial appearance in Court last month.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth) and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, both unclassified felonies; along with one count of stealing and one count of 2nd-degree burglary, both class C felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine of up to $5,000 or both, and three class A misdemeanors charges of trespass, PPD and making threatening remarks.

Bail is set at $15,000.

THE CASE

On the morning of March 15, 2022. a couple contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that someone has burglarized their home at night and stole several items including 2 cell phones, 2 new pairs of sport shoes and a laptop.

The couple further stated to police that their neighbor had some additional information regarding the person of interest.

Several police officers responded to the call and met up with the couple at their residence in Ottoville, along with the neighbor, a woman.

As police officers were speaking with the couple and their neighbor , a male approached the neighbor and questioned her regarding rumors she made — that he had broken into the couple’s house on the previous night and stole items.

The male acted violently as if he was about to attack the woman and he threatened to beat her up if she continued to spread these false rumors about him.

Officers tried to calm things down and then they called for back up.

Two officers tried to communicate with the male while the other two officers interviewed the couple and the woman, who is also the sole eyewitness in this case.

The couple stated that on the night of Mar. 14, 2022 around 11pm when they returned to their house, they discovered that they had been robbed. Items stolen included 2 cell phones, 2 new pairs of sport shoes and a laptop, as well as some frozen food that had been inside their refrigerator.

 As they were trying to figure out how the individual entered their house, the woman who lives next door approached them and told them that she saw a man by the name of Neil Olosega exit the house’s back door carrying a big bag and jump inside a black four-door car, which was parked on the other side of the road and took off.

The couple told police that they went to Olosegas house, which is two blocks away from their house in an effort to speak to him about the allegation that he robbed them, but he was not at home. His sister told them that she would inform Olosega about the matter when he came home.

According to the couple’s statement to police, while they wanted to file a complaint with police, however, they also wanted to speak to Olosega first about the matter, before they called the police.

Officers checked the house and found the point of entry, which was the window in the back room where the suspect allegedly removed the window to gain excess into the house.

Officers also questioned the eyewitness — the woman living next door.

According to the witness, she was outside of the house talking to her daughter in Hawaii on the phone when she saw a black car pull up on the side of the road, approximately 50 yards away from the couple’s house that was burglarized.

Moments later, she heard a loud bang coming from the couple’s house.

After about 10 minutes, she saw the back door of the house open and then she saw a man carrying a bag full of stuff exit the house and quickly make his way to the car. He jumped inside the car and took off, she said.

The eyewitness told police that she clearly identified the male who exited the house as Olosega because she knew him, and he lives in the neighborhood.

In the meantime, police officers were still trying to calm Olosega down, and could smell a strong odor of alcohol on him.

Olosega at the time was holding a cell phone with a black cover in his right hand; and the couple informed officers that the phone Olosega was holding belonged to them.

One of the officers told the couple to call the phone number to check if that is their phone. The phone Olosega was holding rang, when the couple called their phone number and Olosega immediately reached out to the phone and tried to turn it off.

Officers asked the suspect who owned the cell phone that had just rung and Olosega did not answer.

As a result, he was apprehended at the scene and transported to the TPS for questioning. A pat down was done before Olosega was transported, and officers discovered a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance, along with 2 hand rolled marijuana joints.

The defendant was Mirandized at the TPS and he agreed to make a statement.

According to Olosega’s statement to police, on the night of the incident, he broke into the couple’s house to steal items he could sell so he could pay back money he owed to a friend, who had called him asking for the money. He described how he entered the house and what he stole.

Olosega told police that he sold one of the cell phones and the laptop to another couple for $150, while the kept the shoes and the other cell phone.

When questioned about the drugs found on him, the suspect said he bought the drugs from a man in Iliili for $30 for his personal use.

The cell phone and the laptop sold to another couple were recovered by police and returned to the owner.

It’s not clear at this time whether the couple who bought the stolen items will face charges.