Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man arrested for disturbing the public peace in front of a church in the Tafuna area is now charged with violating local drug laws.

Francis Hema made his initial appearance in District Court this week.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, an unclassified felony, punishable by imprisonment from 5-10 year, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.

Acting Associate Justice Elvis P. Patea set bail at $5,000.

Preliminary examination is scheduled for Thursday next week at 2p.m.

THE CASE

According to the court affidavit, it was around 11:35p.m on Friday night, July 3rd, 2020 when the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a phone call from a woman seeking police assistance regarding young men drinking and fighting in front of a church in Tafuna. The caller further stated that the young males allegedly yelled profanities and threw beer bottles on the sidewalk.

Several police officers responded and observed a young male sitting in front of an abandoned house adjacent from the Word of Life Church. The young male appeared to be hurt, blood streaming down from his face (right eye). He was later identified by bystanders from around the area as a local meth boy from the village named “Francis”, the defendant in this case.

The defendant was treated by EMS personnel at the TPS, before he was transported to the LBJ Hospital for further treatment.

Before the defendant was transported to the LBJ, police conducted a body search. The defendant emptied out his pants pocket and a stamp size baggie with white crystalline substance residue was discovered. The white crystalline substance was tested and confirmed positive for methamphetamine.

The defendant was then transported to the LBJ Hospital for treatment and discharged early morning the next day.

Around 10:50p.m on July 5th, two days after the defendant was arrested, investigators questioned him at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) regarding the stamp size baggie they had found on him on the night in question when he was assaulted by some unknown male individuals.

After being informed of his Constitutional rights, the defendant stated that he understood and wished to make a statement.

According to the defendant’s statement, he was at his friend’s party on the night of the incident and when he left to go home he got beat up by people he doesn’t know. He was drunk and decided to do a stupid move and “Faaumu” (Samoan war cry).

According to the defendant’s statement to investigators, the methamphetamine found inside his pocket was not even his. He stated he was shocked when the police said they found it in his pants.