Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 28, 2024, a traffic stop resulted in the arrest of male individual that was pulled over for a traffic violation. The vehicle was impounded when the driver failed to provide a driver’s license. Police officers found drugs during the vehicle inventory.

The defendant, Pati Solomona, was arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), an unclassified felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than 10 years, a fine of not less than $5,000, and not more than $20,000, or both; and,

Count 2: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance ( Marijuana), an unclassified felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than 10 years, a fine of not less than $5,000, and not more than $20,000.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

According to the affidavit, on or about April 28, 2024, a police detective received a call from a police officer who reported that they discovered a clear glass pipe with a crystalline substance during the inventory search of a vehicle they had impounded.

The police detective proceeded to the Tafuna Police Substation and met with officers who stated that the vehicle was stopped on the highway for speeding and the vehicle was impounded because the driver did not have a driver’s license.

Upon arrival at the station, the officers informed the driver, who was identified as Pati Solomona that an inventory of the vehicle would be carried out. The officer opened the driver’s door and observed what appeared to be a cigarette rolled joint inside the cup holder, along with two MC rolling papers, and two .22 caliber rounds.

When the officer continued the inventory, he found a glass pipe with crystalline substance underneath the driver’s seat.

The crystalline substance was tested by one of the police captains using a Field Test Kit which confirmed that it was methamphetamine (meth). The green leafy substance (found in the joint) was also tested using the Duquenois Levine Test Kit, and confirmed the presence of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Solomona was Mirandized and was willing to make a statement.

According to Solomona, the glass pipe and rolled joint were his.

He claimed that he needed the meth because he uses it to help him with the heavy duty work he does as a mechanic. As for the weed, it was just something for him to ‘chill with’.

Solomona was later booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for confinement and to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 35-year-old male from the village of Fagaima, American Samoa.