Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 2, 2025, police responded to a domestic call involving a man who allegedly assaulted his wife for no reason.

The suspect was apprehended and later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

According to the court affidavit, on March 2, 2025 at around 11:49 p.m., David Bernard (person of interest) returned home after an evening of socializing with friends and was intoxicated. Allegedly, he then proceeded directly to the location where his wife was resting on the floor near the entrance, and without any provocation, accused his wife of infidelity.

His wife, taken aback by the accusation, sat up in disbelief as the suspect violently struck her in the left side of her face by kicking her left facial area.

The victim was in a state of shock, experiencing acute pain in her head. As she attempted to regain her footing, the suspect escalated his aggression by slapping her forcefully on the left cheek and yelled profanities at her.

The suspect’s sister intervened by escorting her sister-in-law to their mother’s room and contacted the police for assistance.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, the suspect’s sister was waiting outside the house for the police. She told the officers that her brother had calmed down a bit and that he was in his room by himself. The officers  went inside the house and detained the suspect.

He was handcuffed and placed inside the police unit.

The officers then asked about the victim’s whereabouts, and the suspect’s sister led the officers to another room which was said to be the suspect’s and his sister’s mother’s room.

When the officers opened the room, they saw the victim lying down with her children.

The officers asked the victim if she was okay to talk about what happened and she said “yes”. The victim stated that the suspect left home with two of his Filipino friends and said they were going to a drinking party at about 7:45 p.m. She went to the bathroom at about 11:48 p.m., and saw the suspect walking back to the house.

She went back to their room and laid down. She then heard the suspect’s footsteps getting louder and stop. She was shocked when got kicked in the face where she felt pain all over. The victim’s face was swollen and the police officers took photos for evidence. The left side of her face was swollen and red.

The officers asked the victim if she needed medical assistance but she refused and said she was putting ice on it to help with the swelling. The officers asked the victim if it was normal for them to argue and the victim cried and said it only happens when the suspect comes home drunk. She stated that every time he goes out with his friends, he would beat her up and accuse her of cheating.

The defendant is identified as the 42-year-old U.S National.