Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of assaulting his female cousin and her daughter has been arrested and during the arrest, drugs were found in his pocket.

Jerome Samuelu appeared in Court last month for his initial appearance.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth), both unclassified felonies, one count of 2nd- degree assault, a class D felony, along with one count of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of 3rd- degree assault, both class A misdemeanors.

Bail is set at $15,000 and the defendant is scheduled to appear in court this Friday for his preliminary hearing (PX).

THE CASE

The government claims that in the early morning hours on Oct. 14, 2022, a woman (later identified as the victim) contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report that her male cousin, later identified as Jerome Samuelu (defendant) had attempted to assault her and her daughter and he was causing trouble at their home.

Several police officers responded to the call and met up with the reporter, who was also the victim in this matter. She described the incident, including the fact that her cousin Jerome, who was standing outside of their house, holding two bottles of beer, looked very drunk.

The victim said she opened the door and instructed the defendant to shut up and go home, but he yelled profanities at her and threw an empty beer bottle at her, but it hit the window of the house.

The victim ran inside but the defendant continued yelling and shouting that he was going to kill her and her family. The victim ran to her husband’s parents’ room for help.

The defendant walked into the living room and slapped the victim’s daughter in the face while holding a beer bottle in his other hand. The victim’s father-in-law came out of the room and chased the defendant out of the house.

Cops went to the defendant’s house in an effort to locate him but he was nowhere to be found in the area. Around 5:10a.m on the same morning, the defendant’s wife called the TPS to report that the defendant was sleeping in the bed of his truck, parked outside their house.

Several police officers proceeded to the area and woke the defendant and transported him to the TPS for questioning. The defendant was patted down for contraband and during the body search, a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance was found inside his pants left pocket, along with one hand rolled joint containing a green leafy substance.

The defendant was Mirandized and refused to make a statement. He was later transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) where he was booked and confined.

FAIMASASA FOLENI

The driver of a vehicle pulled over by police last month for failure to stop at a stop sign is now charged with violating local drug laws. The vehicle almost collided with another vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, Faimasasa Foleni was taken into custody when police discovered two small baggies containing a white crystalline substance in his possession on the night of Oct. 18, 2022.

When asked why he didn’t stop at the stop sign, he told police that he was in a rush to pick up his mother from home to take her to the hospital for a medical appointment. It was during this conversation, officers smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver’s breath and asked Foleni if he was under the influence of alcohol, to which he replied, “No.”

Officers asked the driver again if he’s sure that he’s not under the influence of alcohol, the driver paused for few seconds before he replied, yes, he had consumed a few beers at his friend’s house before heading back home.

While speaking with Lokeni, officers observed him trying to reach into his rear pocket. When asked by officers if he had anything illegal, Foleni replied yes, he had drugs.

It was at that time the driver pulled out the illegal drugs and handed them over to police officers. He also pulled from his left pocket one hand rolled marijuana cigarette and handed it over too. A pat down was conducted and nothing else was found.

The driver was transported to the TPS for further investigation, and his vehicle was also impounded.

After being Mirandized, Foleni told investigators he wanted to make a statement. According to his written statement, Foleni told investigators that the illegal drugs found in his possession were given to him by a friend from Vaitogi. Foleni stated that he visited his friend’s house after work and had a few beers before heading back home.

During their drinking session, his friend gave him meth and marijuana for his personal use. The defendant further stated to investigators that he knew that his friend has been involved in selling drugs from his home. He told investigators that he’s not a drug dealer.

Foleni made his initial appearance in court last month.

He’s charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, both unclassified felonies, along with a class A misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).

Bail was set at $10,000.

FIASAMI FAATELE

A man accused of possessing a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance has been arrested and charged for violating local drug laws.

Fiasami Faatele made his initial appearance in court two weeks ago. He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, meth, a felony, punishable by imprisonment from 5- 10 years, a $5,000 fine up to $20,000.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE CASE

On Oct. 28, 2022, the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit received information from the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding a two small stamp sized baggies containing white crystalline substance found on an individual, who was allegedly involved in a public peace disturbance case they were investigating.

The two individuals involved in this matter — the defendant, Faatele and a girlfriend were transported to the TPS for further investigation. At the TPS, officers were suspicious of the girlfriend’s movements and after a pat down, she was asked and gave consent to look through her bag.

During the search, police discovered two small baggies containing a white crystalline substances. Officers also found a glass pipe containing white crystalline substance. The white crystalline substance was tested and yielded positive for methamphetamine.

After she was Mirandized, the girlfriend made a statement to police. She stated to police that the glass pipe and the two baggies found inside her bag belonged to her boyfriend, Faatele, and she was not aware that her boyfriend had put the glass pipe and packets of meth in her bag.

Faatele was questioned by the police regarding the glass pipe and the plastic baggies, and he admitted to owning the stuff found by police inside his girlfriend’s bag, and that he had placed it inside her bag and she didn’t know about it.

When asked from where he had gotten the glass pipe and meth, Faatele stated that he got the stuff from an old friend who always gave him drugs for his personal use.

Faatele was later transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) where he was booked and confined. His girlfriend was released.

ALATISE FILIKI

Alatisa Filiki, who was released by the court two months ago on his own recognizance under the condition that he remain law abiding and stay alcohol and drug free, is now facing felony drug charges after he was re-arrested last month for alleged possession of marijuana.

Filiki made his initial appearance in District Court last month.

Filiki, who was charged two months ago with public peace disturbance (PPD), a class B misdemeanor, is now also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, and unlawful possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, both class D felonies, punishable by imprisonment of 5-10 years and a fine of $5,000-$20,000.

Bond is set at $10,000 and a preliminary examination is next week,

THE CASE

On the evening of Oct. 12, detectives of the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit received information regarding a vehicle that was pulled over by traffic cops on the west side of the island. Illegal drugs were allegedly discovered in the back seat of the vehicle.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the driver, Filiki, was released four months ago following an arrest and PPD charge.

A search of the vehicle, conducted in Filiki’s presence, uncovered a black pouch in the back seat of his vehicle containing a medium plastic baggie holding 5 rolled cigarette joints (containing a green leafy substance) that appeared to be marijuana. Also inside was a wallet with Filiki’s driver's license and personal documents.

Police also discovered a separate medium sized plastic bag, containing cash and rolling papers. After the vehicle was searched, Filiki was taken into custody for further questioning.

In his statement to police, Filiki admitted that the vehicle, along with the illegal drugs discovered inside the black pouch, all belonged to him. He told investigators that he had just returned from delivering drugs to two other people, and he got the marijuana joints from another male, and he was selling each joint for $10.

Police noted the name of the person from whom Filiki said he got the drugs.

The green leafy substance that was found in the vehicle tested positive for THC/ marijuana.

IOSE OLOAPU

The court has accepted the plea agreement between the government and Iose Oloapu, who is accused of stabbing a man with a knife during a drinking session last year. Oloapu, who has been in custody since his arrest, unable to post a $20,000 cash bond appeared in High Court last week for a Change of Plea hearing.

Oloapu in a plea deal with the government, accepted by the court, entered a guilty plea to second degree assault, which was amended from the original count.

According to court documents, the government claims that on Oct. 28, 2021, Oloapu was at the victim’s house for a weekend party when a verbal argument between Oloapu and another man started, towards the end of the night. The victim stepped up and tried to calm the argument between Oloapu and the other man.

Out of nowhere, the man punched Oloapu in the face. Oloapu thought that it was the victim who punched him. He then walked to his vehicle and grabbed a knife, and walked over to the victim and stabbed him in the shoulder and his back.

Court filings say the wounded man was taken to the LBJ Hospital where he was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 2 days.

Oloapu’s family apologized to the victim’s family on behalf of the defendant. The victim’s hospital bill of $784.50 was paid in full by the defendant’s wife.

Sentencing for Oloapu is set for next month.