Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The former DPS cop wanted locally in connection with drug related crimes was arrested and charged last month at King County Superior Court in Seattle, WA for domestic assault and battery.

According to information received by Samoa News, Steven Tuato'o is accused of assaulting his wife. He was apprehended and held in custody at the Regional Justice Center Facility on April 12, 2018 after his court appearance.

His bail has been set at $185,000 and it was unconfirmed at press time yesterday whether he has been able to post bond.

DPS Deputy Commissioner Falana’ipupu Ta’ase Sagapolutele declined to comment when Samoa News inquired about the issue at his office yesterday morning. But sources told Samoa News the Department of Public Safety (DPS) has already been informed by King County Prosecutor’s office about the case.

“DPS has been in contact with federal agencies and several police departments in the United States about this case,” the source told Samoa News.

It’s unclear at this time whether DPS has been in contact with the King County Court and whether they are seeking to extradite Tuato'o to American Samoa to answer the charges against him.

Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson told Samoa News earlier this year in January that Tuato'o had been seen in Seattle, Washington. He added that federal authorities might need to be brought in to get Tuato'o back to the territory to face the criminal charges against him.

BACKGROUND

Tuato'o was one of the three men arrested during a string of raids in Taputimu, Alofau and on the main road, by detectives of the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit last November. The other two men arrested were Cody Christian Woods and Taisia Lemalie.

During the raids, police confiscated items including a large quantity of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value between $50,000 and $55,000; marijuana with a street value between $20,000 and $25,000; 3 guns (12-gauge shotgun, 357 magnum, and a pellet gun — all fully loaded); 144 bullets for the 357 magnum; various stolen items; and drug paraphernalia.

A total of $54,003 in cash was confiscated from the home in Taputimu, in addition to $459 found on Woods.

All three men were taken into custody and held for 48 hours to await the filing of criminal charges against them.

However, Tuato'o was released from the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) after the 48-hour holding period expired, and according to reliable sources, he immediately left the territory.

During a DPS press conference late last year, Samoa News was told that all three men were charged and had to make their initial appearances in the District Court on the last week of November 2017. However, Tuato'o never showed up.

It’s believed Tuato'o, who was a DPS officer for many years, was never served an arrest warrant.

Both Woods and Taisia are still in custody, unable to post bond — $200,000 for Woods and $5,000 for Taisia.