Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 20, 2024, a male individual called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report someone who was allegedly causing a disturbance by yelling profanities.

The suspect was apprehended and later charged with:

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

The defendant’s bail was set at $300.

According to the affidavit, on July 20th, at about 1:32 a.m, a male individual contacted TPS to report people fighting and yelling profanities next to his house. It was reported that John Matagilele was causing a peace disturbance by yelling out profanities and engaging in fights at his neighbor’s residence. The investigation revealed that the suspect was intoxicated.

The officers responded to the matter and upon approaching the scene, they observed a crowd standing around the area looking at two male individuals on the ground. The officers approached the crowd and saw a male individual trying to subdue the suspect. While the male was holding down the suspect and trying to calm him down, the suspect continued to yell out profanities and telling the male to get off him.

The officers apprehended the suspect and transported him to the TPS for further investigation.

The reporter of the incident was also interviewed and according to his verbal statement, he heard someone shouting and yelling out profanities, and came outside to see what was happening. That’s when he saw the suspect swearing and trying to fight one of his drinking buddies.

He explained he went over to calm the suspect down but Matagilele was uncontrollable. He then told the boys to subdue the suspect and try to calm him down. While the boys held Matagilele down he continued to yell out profanities.

Moreover, the reporter explained that his mother came over and told the suspect to shut up and Matagilele cussed out his mother. He then slapped the suspect’s mouth for disrespecting his mother.

The defendant is identified as a 26 year-old citizen of Samoa.

LINA FUALAAU

On July 28, 2024, a traffic stop resulted in the arrest of a passenger that was allegedly observed by officers consuming alcohol in the vehicle. The defendant denied the accusation but was caught holding the beer bottle in the vehicle.

She was apprehended and charged with Count 1: Prohibited Place of Consumption, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

No bail was indicated in the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, investigation disclosed that on July 28th, at about 1:40 a.m, a police officer observed a female Lina Fualaau consuming a bottle of beer while sitting on (the lap of) a male passenger inside the vehicle.

As police officers were patrolling heading south, near the TPS on the Tafuna Public Highway they observed another police unit conducting a traffic stop near the stop sign across from the Tafuna OMV.

While the other officers were conducting a traffic stop, one of the officers stated that as he was exiting the police unit a vehicle stopped at the stop sign, blocking the traffic so he waved to the vehicle to move.

He stated that the lights from the streets were clear and he observed a female sitting on the lap of a male passenger and she was consuming a bottle of beer. He then told the driver of the vehicle to drive straight to the OMV entrance where the police station is located.

The officers activated the police unit siren and proceeded to the station.

As they approached the vehicle they observed two males and one female sitting on top of one the males sitting on the right rear passenger side. One of the officers observed the female with her right hand in the middle of her legs and she was reaching downwards. The officer asked the female passenger to come out of the vehicle and in a slurred speech she stated she is sick and she will not come out of the vehicle. She also stated that she doesn’t drink and that she hasn’t committed a crime.

Another officer then walked towards the vehicle and asked the male passenger sitting on the rear right side to open his door. When the male passenger opened his door, the officer flashed his flashlight below their feet and he observed the female holding the beer bottle.

When she was asked to bring the bottle out, the female passenger threw it down and said it was not hers. She then said “it is not a crime to consume alcohol inside a vehicle.”

The female passenger was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a U.S National.