Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 19, 2025, Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) received a call regarding a man who was allegedly causing a disturbance.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Mar. 19th, at approximately 12:30 a.m., a man contacted the police station to report his brother-in- law’s younger brother for allegedly causing a disturbance at their home.

The officers proceeded to serve the call and while approaching the location, they observed a man approaching them. The man was later identified as the victim/ reporter.

The victim pointed towards John Matagilelei (later identified as the suspect) who had followed him with a pipe wrench in his hand. As soon as the suspect saw the police unit, he turned around and ran downhill.

The officers chased after him and as they were chasing the suspect, he slid downhill and fell on his back. The officers caught up to him and asked him if he needed any medical assistance but he refused and started yelling profanities at the officers.

While the officers tried to help the suspect get up and cuff him, he resisted by pushing back the officers, which caused him to fall further downhill. The officers went downhill and observed him lying on his back with his eyes closed.

The officers tried to wake the suspect up but he wouldn't budge. Moreover, as the officers tried to apply the cuffs on both his hands, the suspect immediately opened his eyes and started yelling profanities.

The suspect refused to comply with the officers but told the officers that his leg hurt and he couldn’t move. The officers asked him again if he needed medical assistance to which he agreed.

The officers assisted the suspect and carried him uphill because it was raining, muddy and slippery. However, the suspect made it difficult for the officers by trying to drag the officers down, and he allegedly pretended he was unable to walk.

The suspect wanted to fight with the officers and continued to yell profanities at them as they carried him uphill.

The suspect was apprehended and put inside the police unit to be transported to the FPS for further investigation.

During transport of the suspect, police detected a strong smell of alcohol emitting from his breath, as well as observing bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and he also continued yelling profanities at the officers.

The officers interviewed the victim where he briefly explained what happened.

The victim verbally stated that they drank a few beers and had dinner with the suspect. However, the suspect got mad at the elderly man that lives with them for no reason.

The victim explained that he went to his room, locked it and slept. However, he later heard the suspect yelling outside his door, and knocking on his door. When he opened the door, he saw the suspect holding a pipe wrench.

Moreover, the victim stated that he got scared and came outside to try and remove the pipe from the suspect. They ended up scuffling until he was able to successfully remove the pipe from the suspect.

But the suspect continued to yell profanities and then he went and grabbed a hammer and started smashing things outside the house.

His brother-in-law then went inside the house and told his daughter to call the police for assistance because the situation was getting out of control.

Upon arrival at the FPS, the suspect was still yelling profanities at the officer. The EMS arrived and was able to check the suspect, who later refused to sign the waiver for further check up at the hospital.

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

The affidavit also noted that while transporting the suspect to the TCF, the suspect went from not being able to walk to walking all by himself and in addition ‘flipped off’ the officers.

The defendant is identified as a 27-year-old citizen of Samoa.