Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of a vehicle pulled over by cops for a traffic violation was later charged with violating local drug laws.

William Fanolua, who made his initial appearance in Court last month is charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana and one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth), both unclassified felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than ten years, a fine of up to $20,000.

Bail is set at $10,000 and Fanolua is scheduled to appear in court next week for his preliminary hearing.

THE ALLEGATION

On July 2, 2022 around midnight, three officers stopped a vehicle in Nu’uuli for speeding and broken lights. Officers also discovered that the driver of the vehicle did not possess a driver’s license. A check with the Office of the Motor Vehicle (OMV) systems revealed that his driver’s license had expired in 2016.

Upon impounding the vehicle it was inventoried and officers discovered two small stamp-sized baggies containing green leafy substance under the passenger seat, along with two cut-up straws containing a white crystalline substance, also under the passenger seat.

The green leafy substance tested positive for THC/ marijuana while the white crystalline substance tested positive for meth.

Detectives of the Vice and Narcotics were informed of the discovery for further investigation.

The driver of the vehicle was later identified as William Fanolua, the defendant in this matter.

The other occupants of the vehicle were also taken into custody for further investigation and were patted down for weapons and contraband with nothing found.

In the early morning hours of July 3, Fanolua was Mirandized where he signed the form indicating that he understood what his rights are. However he exercised his rights to remain silent.

Investigators interviewed one of the male passengers who was willing to speak with investigators. According to the passenger, they went to pick up some drugs from Fanolua’s best friend in Nu’uuli.

On their way back to Fagatogo, their vehicle was pulled over for speeding and other traffic violations. The witness said before police officers spoke to Fanolua, the defendant asked him to hide the drugs under the passenger seat. He said he did not touch anything because he didn’t want to get into trouble.

The witness told investigators that drugs found inside the vehicle belonged to Fanolua.

MANASE TIFAGA

A man was arrested by police last month on the allegation he assaulted another man at the man’s residence. When he was arrested, cops discovered illegal drugs in his possession.

Manase Tifaga appeared in Court last month. He is charged with 2nd- degree assault, stealing, burglary and unlawful possession of meth, all felonies.

Bail is set at $15,000.

THE ALLEGATION

Investigation disclosed that close to midnight on July 4, 2022, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a phone call from two people regarding an assault that happened near a store in the Tafuna area.

Several police officers responded to the call and were able to speak to the alleged victim in the case.

According to the victim, he was alone in front of the store when the defendant allegedly walked over with a wooden stick and started playing around with him by imitating the sound of a gun while pointing the stick at him.

The victim ran to his house which is located at the back of the store to avoid the defendant’s action, however, the defendant followed him inside his house and continued what he was doing with the stick.

The victim asked the suspect to leave because he was busy however, the man continued to point the stick at the victim and suddenly the defendant allegedly struck the victim’s head with the stick he was holding three times, causing a big cut at the back of his head. The victim fell on the floor and the defendant punched him in the face twice.

The defendant then took the victim’s wallet containing over $460 in cash, along with his laptop, and two new pairs of shoes. After the defendant left the victim’s house, the victim stood up and walked to the front of the store where he saw three male individuals and them if they had seen a man wearing a red t-shirt walking away from house. One of the men told the victim that person who had just walked from his house was Manase Tifaga, the defendant in this case.

The victim was crying in front of the store and calling out for help. Several people heard the victim’s crying came forward and saw the victim with blood covering his face. That is when two people from the crowd contacted police for assistance.

EMS arrived shortly thereafter and transported the victim to the hospital for medical treatment.

The defendant was apprehended at the scene and was transported to the TPS for an interview. Before he was transported to the TPS, he was patted down for weapons or contraband.

During a body search, officers discovered a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance inside the defendant’s right pocket. Further, during the process, cops smelled a strong odor of alcohol emitting from the defendant’s breath.

The defendant was Mirandized and agreed to speak to investigators. According to his statement, the glass pipe containing meth belonged to him, and that he had assaulted the defendant and apologized to investigators for his actions.

CHRISTOPHER LAVEMAI

The driver of a vehicle pulled over by police for a traffic violation is now charged with violating local drug laws.

Christopher Lavemai appeared in Court last month where he was charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth), a felony, along with several traffic citations.

His bail is set at $5,000.

THE ALLEGATION

On the morning of July 13, 2022, officers pulled over a blue pickup truck for speeding on the Pavaiai public highway. The vehicle stopped in front of a store in the area and cops observed a male individual who was sitting in the front passenger’s seat open his door and walk towards the store.

Officers instructed the male to get back inside the car but he refused and continued to walk to the store.

Two officers followed the male  and immediately apprehended him in front of the store and then escorted him back to the vehicle, while two other officers were speaking with the driver of the vehicle.

The driver was found not to have his driver’s license, nor any other form of identification on him.

Officers then informed the driver that his vehicle would be impounded at TPS and instructed the driver to exit the vehicle while the male passenger was ordered to stay inside.

The driver was later identified as Christopher Lavemai, the defendant in this matter.

Lavemai was patted down and the officer felt a hard object inside the back right side pocket of Lavemai’s pants. The officer asked Lavemai what it was where Lavemai stated that it was nothing. The hard object was a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance inside.

Further search of Lavemai led to the discovery of two small stamp-sized baggies containing a white crystalline substance were discovered inside another pocket.

Lavemai was placed inside a police unit and was later transported to the TPS for further investigation.

The male passenger was also patted down for weapons and contraband and nothing was found on him. He was also transported to the TPS for interview.

Investigators interviewed the two men separately. According to the passenger’s verbal statement to investigators, his uncle Lavemai picked him up at his home in Leone and they were heading to Malaeimi.

On their way to Malaeimi, a man stopped their vehicle in Puapua and handed over something to Lavemai. He did not know that those things were. He then saw Lavemai pull out money from his wallet and give it to the man before they continued.

Lavemai was Mirandized where he said understood his rights and agreed to answer questions. According to Lavemai, he went to Leone to pick up his nephew to assist him with his construction work at Malaeimi. He confirmed what his nephew had told police.

Lavemai apologized to investigators for his actions and admitted he failed this time.

Lavemai was later transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) where he was booked and confined.