Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On February 20, 2025, a bus driver called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) to report three men allegedly bullied another passenger on his bus.

The suspects were apprehended and charged as follows:

Sauao Filimalo was charged with: Count 1: Prohibited Place of Consumption, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

Both Ierusalema Tonia and Aperaamo Tonia were charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Prohibited Place of Consumption, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

Bail for each of the three defendants was set at $500.

According to the court affidavit, on Feb. 20th, at about 3:06 p.m., a man, later identified as the bus driver, called the FPS to report that Sauao Filimalo, Aperaamo and Ierusalema Tonia allegedly bullied a victim on his commercial bus.

An investigation later revealed that Ierusalema Tonia threatened the victim and told him to get off the bus or he would slap him. At the same time, Aperaamo Tonia yelled profanities at the victim and aggressively challenged the victim to fight with him on the bus.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene in Faganeanea, other officers were on standby with the suspects at the first bus stop.

Ierusalema Tonia and Aperaamo Tonia were already detained and observed to be holding a bag full of beer cans. Aperaamo stood up from the bus stop and tried to cross the road but was stopped by the officers.

More officers arrived at the scene a few minutes later and immediately apprehended Sauao Filimalo. The three suspects were placed inside the police unit and transported to the FPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the FPS, the three suspects were separated to be interrogated and booked. The suspects were all intoxicated and were unable to cooperate well with the officers, particularly Ierusalema and Aperaamo Tonia.

Reports revealed that Ierusalema and Aperaamo had been drinking on the bus. They were also both reluctant to listen and sit still and they continued to ask the officers for favors and make unnecessary remarks.

The victim was placed in a separate room to await the EMS. The victim had three small lacerations on his forearm which was later treated.

All three suspects were booked and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

Police officers conducted a follow up with the victim in which he provided a written statement.

According to the victim, he stopped the bus in Fagatogo and was heading home. Along the way, the bus stopped in Utulei and the three suspects got on the bus. The victim stated that he was minding his own business when the three suspects bothered him.

Ierusalema Tonia yelled at him and told him to get off the bus whereas Aperaamo Tonia yelled profanities in Samoan and challenged him to a fight. The victim also stated that he politely told them to leave him alone. However, Ierusalema Tonia threatened to kill him. He then stopped the bus in Faganeanea where he stays and told the three suspects to come down from the bus. As the three suspects exited the bus, the other passengers exited as well.

At this time, an officer saw the crowd and approached to see what was going on which revealed that all three suspects were intoxicated.

The victim also told the officers that Sauao Filimalo didn’t do anything to him on the bus.

Ierusalema Tonia is identified as a 25-year-old and Aperaamo Tonia as a 23-year-old. Both are U.S Nationals.

Sauao Filimalo is identified as a 34-year-old citizen of Samoa.