Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 18, 2025, a concerned relative contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported her nephew who allegedly assaulted his sister with a cooking pot.

The suspect was arrested and later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300.00, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000.00, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $300.00.

According to the affidavit, on Jan. 18th, Johnny Talia (later identified as the suspect) allegedly physically assaulted his sister (later identified as the victim) by throwing a cooking pot at her — striking the back of her head. He also threw a Samoan handmade broom (salu lima) but missed. The suspect also verbally threatened the victim by telling her that “I will kill you”.

The victim’s 9-year-old daughter was apparently standing next to her.

The incident occurred at the family’s residence where the siblings (victim and suspect) reside.

The reporter who contacted the TPS witnessed the incident and is the aunt to the victim and the suspect. She said she approached the suspect and scolded him for his behavior towards the victim, and he answered back by swearing at her and telling her to get off his property.

At this point, she contacted the police immediately to report the alleged assault.

Police officers responded to the call and arrived at approximately 1:43 p.m., and  observed the victim, her 9-year-old daughter and the witness (aunt) waiting outside the house, frightened.

One of the officers interviewed the reporter while another officer approached the victim and interviewed her.

According to the witness/ reporter’s verbal statement, while dropping off the victim and her daughter at the house, the suspect/ brother rushed out of the house angrily and started yelling at the victim. The suspect accused the victim of eating his food earlier that morning. The witness continued that before the victim and her daughter entered the house, the suspect confronted her in front of the house and he threw a cooking pot at her, which struck the back of the victim’s head. The victim grabbed her daughter and walked away.

She, the reporter (aunt) then got out of her vehicle and scolded the suspect. She also asked the victim with her daughter to go wait inside her vehicle until the police arrive. The witness also mentioned that this has been an ongoing matter.

The victim was also interviewed and she confirmed what her aunt had told police, including that she told the suspect that it was not her fault.  She said the suspect threw not only a cooking pot at her, striking the back of her head, but also threw a ‘salu lima’ at her while her daughter was standing next to her in fear.

The victim stated that the suspect further threatened to kill her. And, at that point, she walked away with her daughter and went inside her aunt's car to await for the police to arrive.

The victim refused to be treated by the paramedics and there were no visible injuries on her. The victim noted also that every time the suspect gets mad at her, she is always afraid and worried for the safety of her 9-year-old daughter.

At about 1:58 p.m., the officers apprehended the suspect and placed him in the police unit where he was later transported to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, the suspect was Mirandized and he agreed to make a statement and answer any questions.

The suspect denied every accusation against him and stated that his aunt created all these false statements against him. The suspect noted that he just got bailed out last month.

The suspect was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 35-year-old citizen of Samoa.