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APB issued for vehicle after driver allegedly involved in domestic dispute

American Samoa District Court building
Charged for drugs, no mention of wife’s domestic allegation
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A passenger in a vehicle pulled over by police during a traffic stop is now facing felony charges after police allegedly discovered illegal drugs in his possession.

The driver, Misitama West, made his initial appearance before Acting Associate Justice Elvis P. Patea in District Court this week.

West is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE CASE

On Nov. 9, 2020 about 4:00p.m, Vice and Narcotics Unit (VNU) were dispatched to a matter at the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) where Patrol Officers (PO) stopped a vehicle that was the subject of an All-Points Bulletin (APB) the night before, Nov. 8th, to be impounded as the driver was involved in a domestic dispute.

The case was initiated by PO at the central police headquarter, and the vehicle was located by police in Leone who impounded the vehicle, while detaining two males — a passenger Misatama West, the defendant in this case and the driver. The vehicle belongs to West’s wife and his wife is the alleged subject in the domestic matter.

Detectives conducted an inventory of the vehicle in the presence of the defendant. A glass pipe (commonly use to smoke methamphetamine) containing white crystalline substance was discovered inside one of the overhead compartments of the car.

When asked who it belonged to, West informed detectives that it was the driver’s pipe. Detectives also discovered an empty cut up straw and an empty stamp sized baggie, 3-4 lighters, 4 cell phones and more than $40 in cash.

According to the driver’s verbal and written statements, he was at home when his stepfather called him, to let him know, there was a man waiting outside of the house for him. When he (driver) came outside, the defendant asked him if he could fix his car.

As they were walking towards the car, the driver said West asked him to drive.  According to the driver, they drove from his house in Vailoa to the intersection going to the high school and as they headed to Leone a police car stopped them. When he asked West why the police stopped them, West replied it must be him.

When questioned by detectives, West refused to make a statement.

Test conducted on the substance found in the glass pipe revealed a positive result for methamphetamine.