Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of burglarizing a home and a store in the Tafuna area last year was arrested last month on drug charges during a traffic stop in Iliili. It was during his arrest that officers discovered that that there was an active court warrant from last year re the burglaries.

The defendant, Talitonu Mapu made his initial appearance in District Court last month. He later waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case has been bound over to High Court.

The government has filed two separate cases against Mapu.

In the first case, Mapu is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth), a felony punishable by imprisonment of 5-10 years, a fine of $5,000-$20,000 or both.

In the second case, which is the two burglaries from last year, Mapu is charged with 2 counts of burglary in the first degree, a class B felony punishable by 5-15 years in jail while stealing is a class C felony that carries a jail term of up to 7 years, a fine of up to $5,000, a fine equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of said crime up to a maximum of $20,000, or both fine and imprisonment for each count; along with two count of stealing, a class C felony.

Bail is set at $15,000.

THE CASE

On Apr. 11, 2021 police officers were conducting speed enforcement across from an Asian store in the Malaeimi area. At about 9a.m, they stopped a speeding vehicle that was heading west. Two males were inside, the driver and a passenger sitting in the back seat behind the driver.

The driver identified himself to police as Talitonu Mapu, and did not have on him a valid driver’s license or any other form of identification. It was later confirmed that his license had expired Oct. 17, 2018.

While questioned by officers, Mapu looked nervous and made a lot of movements. He also tried to reach into his rear pocket. When officers asked him if everything is okay, Mapu said no and told officers that he is in a rush to pick up daughter from daycare.

Mapu was then told that his vehicle would be impounded at the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and he would be taken in for further questioning. He was handcuffed and rode in the passenger seat of his vehicle while a cop took the wheel. The passenger was instructed to exit the vehicle and was later search but nothing was found on the passenger. He was then released to go home, but, was later taken back to the TPS for questioning.

Before heading to the police station, Mapu handed a brown box to one officer, to give to his passenger (who identified himself to police as Rex William). Inside the brown box was shopping from a store. Mapu told the officers that it was the shopping for his children and William need to take it home because he was going to the TPS for questioning.

 The cop who handed the box of shopping to Williams and asked Williams if he knew who owns the shopping inside the brown box. William told officers the shopping belonged to Mapu.

The top side of the brown box was open and you could easily see a small gray bag on the side, inside of the box. When William got the brown box, he quickly grabbed the gray small bag and put it inside his pocket while officers were watching.

Officers were suspicious and asked William if they could look inside the brown box. William agreed and handed over the box to officers. Officers also asked him to hand over the gray small bag he had placed inside his pocket.

Inside the brown box was shopping, however, when officers opened the gray bag, they discovered a glass pipe containing white crystalline substance, along with Mapu’s photo ID from his workplace.

William was then placed in the police unit and the cop held on to the brown box and the gray bag until their arrival at the police station. Once there, the cops returned the gray bag to Mapu and asked him who owned it. Mapu did not respond. Officers continue to search inside the gray bag and found a small stamp size baggie containing white crystalline substance.

Officers also searched Mapu for weapons or illegal drugs. The search netted 3 small stamp-sized baggies containing a white crystalline substance that tested positive for meth inside his rear pocket.

William was also searched and nothing was found in his possession.

When questioned by police, William said he had known Mapu for one month now and they met at a mechanic shop in the Tafuna area when he went to fix his vehicle. He said Mapu would ask him for help with his plantation and he (Mapu) would pay him.

According to William, they went to the store for shopping and on their way back home, a police unit pulled over their vehicle and he saw Mapu quickly pull a small gray bag from his pocket and hide it inside the brown box containing the shopping.

One of the cops who escorted Mapu to the substation told the lead investigator that during the ride, Mapu behaved strangely. He looked nervous and wouldn’t stop moving and kicking his feet. En route to the police station, Mapu grabbed the ashtray and spilled its contents on the floor. One officer immediately pulled the ashtray away from him and asked what he was doing. Mapu did not respond.

When questioned by investigators, Mapu said the drugs found in his possession and inside the small gray bag belonged to his friend at the mechanic shop. He told investigators that William have nothing to do with the drugs found on his possession.

Investigators then informed Mapu that there is an active court warrant for his arrest from last year for his role in two separate burglaries in the Tafuna area. Mapu replied that it was him and his other friend, who had already left the island.

Mapu’s vehicle was searched in his presence. Police found a pipe containing white crystalline substance on the floor of the passenger side, wrapped in white paper. There was also a green leafy substance scattered all over the sides of the rug on the passenger side. Two closed off straws were also discovered underneath a soda can in the passenger’s side cup holder.

During arraignment in High Court last week, Mapu pled ‘not guilty’ to charges against him. Pretrial conference is July 10, 2021.

FIRST BURGLARY CASE

According to court filings, on Mar.  21, 2020, police were informed about a burglary that allegedly occurred 3 days earlier. The homeowners are said to have been in Manu’a when their house was robbed.

The homeowner told police that when he got to the house, many of their personal belongings were not in their usual place and the back door was damaged.

A woman who lives nearby told police that a man with a tattoo on his neck and his left shoulder visited the house 3 times the same week before the couple returned from Manu’a.

The tattooed man was later identified as Mapu, the defendant.

Mapu told police that he planned to break into the home after his friend who lived in the area told him that the homeowners were not in town. He further admitted that he stole several items that he sold to a friend in Ottoville.

The couple told police that the estimated value of the stolen property was $690.

SECOND BURGLARY CASE

According to the government’s case, the storeowner reported to police that his business was burglarized and the culprit(s) gained entrance by prying open plywood that was nailed on an open area at the back of the store on Mar. 28th, 2020. Several items and money were removed from the store.

When police interviewed an eye witness about the burglary of the store, the investigators were told that Mapu and another male were seen entering the back door of the store at night and took several items.

Court filings say that Mapu told police that his friend informed him about an open spot at the back of the store, where an air conditioning unit was to be mounted.

Mapu admitted that he pulled both sides of the plywood off to gain entrance while his friend waited outside the store. Mapu said he took items, including $340 in cash notes and $90 in coins, and he and his accomplice split the loot.