American man wanted by Tongan authorities for murder arrested in the Territory
American Samoa authorities have arrested an American man, wanted by Tongan authorities for murder, and he is being held without bail per order of the District Court, where he will appear again on Oct. 26.
Fifty-three year old Dean J. Fletcher made his initial appearance yesterday in District Court where he is charged with one misdemeanor count of unlawfully entering and landing at the Port of Pago Pago on Oct. 3rd without clearance from port officials. The crime is punishable by one-year in prison or a fine of $1,000.
At yesterday’s initial appearance hearing, District Court Judge Fiti A. Sunia said the court had denied bail after it received information regarding Fletcher as well as the incident in Tonga where authorities there are trying to locate the defendant, who is facing a murder charge in Tonga.
Based on local statute, Sunia said the court has the authority to deny bail for this individual.
According to Tonga-based Matangi Tonga online news, Fletcher escaped from Tonga Police custody last week in Neiafu while awaiting arraignment on murder charges. He left Tonga on his own yacht the Sea Oak, chased by the police who were unable to apprehend him in Tongan waters.
Local court document says that local police received a call before 6a.m. on Oct. 3rd, from an individual regarding Fletcher — possibly wanted for an alleged murder case in Tonga and that Fletcher unlawfully entered the territory by a sailboat, which was later identified as the Sea Oak.
DPS Marine Patrol was contacted and went out to locate the vessel, but found the sailboat had already left the port. Marine Patrol headed out to locate the sailboat, which was observed docked just off the waters in Fagaitua. Marine Patrol officers then proceeded to locate the captain of the sailboat.
Later Marine Patrol officers received information from the individual who reported Fletcher, that the man has long brown hair. Officer made contact with a Caucasian male, who said he was the only person onboard the sailboat.
Marine Patrol then escorted the sailboat back into Pago Pago harbor and it was docked at the Fagatogo wharf for processing.
When interviewed by police, the individual who reported Fletcher says she was awoken by another boat anchoring beside her boat; and that she saw a man immediately launch his dinghy into the water and went ashore with two gas cans, according to court documents.
Behind a gas station in Pago Pago, the male docked his dinghy and by the lights in the area, she recognized the man as Fletcher, who she knew six years ago and that she had read the news that Fletcher is “wanted” by the Tonga police for murder and he escaped from custody, according to court records.
Fletcher was later interviewed at the Central Police station in Fagatogo. Further investigation found that his sailboat entered Pago Pago harbor without proper documentation. Additionally, the vessel didn’t have a ‘yellow flag’ or show proof to enter the harbor or clearance from the last port, according to the police report, which also says the defendant was born in Florida.
Tonga Police Commissioner Steve Caldwell is quoted by Matangi Tonga as saying that extradition proceedings have commenced between the Offices of the Attorney General in American Samoa and Tonga as well as the US Justice Department.
(Samoa News reporter Ausage Fausia contributed to this story from the District Court hearing.)