Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 3, 2024, at about 10:48pm, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a woman who alleged that her younger brother was causing trouble at her parents home in Pavaiai. The suspect was later identified as Louis Levi.

The defendant was charged with the following:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV) — a class C misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine of $300, but not less than $150, or both.

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV) — a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1000, but not less than $150, or both.

Count 3: Resisting Arrest — a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1000, or both.

Bail for the defendant was set at $1000.

Arriving on the scene, police officers met with the caller who identified herself as Talisauga Aiulu. In her verbal statement, she explained that her younger brother was angered by her (victim) kids because they stepped in the area where her mother sleeps. As he began yelling at her kids, she argued back because she did not agree with the way he was treating her kids.

She said that “she told the suspect to treat her kids right and he (suspect) told her to teach her kids right.”

She walked out of the house to calm down but it was when she heard her father and brother arguing that she ran back into the house. She explained that she yelled for her brother to stop, but instead he turned around and punched her.

The victim led officers to where the suspect was seated and was advised to make her way to the TPS in her own private vehicle to assist in the investigation.

Officers observed the suspect’s mother trying to calm the suspect when officers entered the kitchen of the family’s home. Police officers saw two knives in the defendant’s right hand and as they approached, the defendant threatened the officers stating “you have no right to be in our house.”

According to the affidavit, “the suspect came towards one of the officers with the knives with the intention to scare them.” However, the suspect’s mother “kept coming between Louis and the officers to calm the suspect down.”

The suspect’s mother said that “there was nothing happening at the house.”

She further stated that her son was just upset that “her daughter’s kids were stepping on her beddings that was [sic] laid on the floor.” The suspect’s mother explained that the argument started because her son yelled at her daughter’s kids and her daughter jumped in to defend her kids.

Shortly after the mother provided her statement, the defendant threw the knives onto the dining table. The officers then explained to the defendant that he would need to go with them to the TPS, but the defendant refused.

The suspect was agitated and tried to fight with police officers — resisting arrest. A total of five police officers assisted with the apprehension of Levi and transported him to the TPS.

The defendant was Mirandized and agreed to make a verbal statement.

The defendant stated that “he yelled at his sister’s kids for stepping in his mother’s bed and his sister yelled at him for yelling at her kids.” What angered the suspect even more was the fact that she called him “stupid” and she was “prideful”. He explained that he argued with her until she left and that he slapped her on the face, once.

The defendant’s sister was treated by EMS personnel at the TPS and released after receiving treatment.

The defendant was booked, transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, and confined to await the next sitting of the District Court.

Both Aiulu (victim) and Levi (suspect) were identified as U.S. Nationals.