Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On February 14, 2025, police officers at the Faga’itua Police Station (FPS) observed inmates in a private vehicle driven by an off-duty officer, as it reversed and parked on a dirt road located before the station. The people in the vehicle were eventually all taken into police custody.

The inmates, Sui Tago, Semi Sago and Mataupu Mamona, are all charged with Count 1: Escape from Confinement, a class D felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine.

Their bails are set at $5,000 each.

Off-duty prison officer, Salvation Va’a, is charged with Aiding the Escape of a Prisoner and Permitting the Escape of a Prisoner

The off-duty officer’s bail is set at $50,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Feb. 14th, at about 3:50 p.m., police officers were standing outside in front of the Fagaitua PS when they observed a purple vehicle with all four windows down, coming from the westbound lane turning into a dirt road before the FPS.

The said vehicle then stopped and reversed whereas one of the officers recognized the passenger sitting in the front passenger seat as an inmate at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF). The officer also observed the two individuals sitting in the back seats as inmates as well.

The officer informed the other officers about the individuals inside the vehicle as possible inmates from the TCF, and they approached the vehicle where it was parked.

One of the officers approached the driver of the vehicle and made contact with an unknown middle-aged man. The officers immediately recognized two of the passengers sitting in the back seat as inmates Sui Tago and Semi Sago.

Authorities informed the driver of the reason why they approached the vehicle and the driver identified himself as Corrections Officer (CO) Salvation Va’a.

The officers asked Va’a if his passengers were inmates and he stated that they’re TCF trustees and they were at Police Captain Mata’u’s house doing work detail.

CO Va’a was asked about what they were doing in Faga’itua when the police captain is from Fagasa. He was also asked if the Director of the American Samoa Department of Corrections (ASDOC) was aware of him bringing the inmates out from TCF — doing a work detail away from the TCF. The CO was also asked why a TCF government vehicle was not being used to transport the inmates.

CO Va’a verbally stated that he had asked permission from the Warden and Assistant Warden (Apoga Custodio and Siaosi Leaea) and it was approved. Due to the safety of the officers and being outnumbered, they went back to the station where they contacted Captain Mata’u through his cell phone and asked about the work details by the inmates at his house.

Mata’u stated that he did not have knowledge of any work detail by any inmates at his house.

The officers then got into Police Unit 28 (PU- 28) and proceeded back to where the said vehicle was still parked and they approached it. The officers also contacted the Fagatogo PS to relay the discovery and requested for police backup for a vehicle stop.

Four police units, which included Criminal Investigation Division (CID) units were dispatched to assist PU- 28 that was now waiting at a concrete road in Auto village near the cricket field for the arrival of the backup units and manpower.

Minutes later, responding officers observed the suspects’ vehicle passing the concrete road heading west on Auto main road. The officers followed the said vehicle to wait for backup to assist them with the vehicle stop.

One of the backup units made contact with the suspects’ vehicle and PU- 28, and a traffic stop was conducted.

The officers removed CO Va’a and the three passengers (inmates) one by one from the vehicle, patted them down, handcuffed them and had them sit down on the ground. CID units later arrived at the site of the vehicle stop and made contact with the responding officers who briefed them regarding the discovery and pointed out the owner of the vehicle.

CO Va’a was then asked if he is the owner of the vehicle in which he replied “yes”. The officers informed Va’a that they will all be transported to FPS and the vehicle will be operated by another officer accompanied by him in the front passenger’s seat.

Va’a was also asked if there were any weapons and contraband inside the vehicle that may put the life of the officer at risk and Va’a replied “no”.

Furthermore, Va’a was asked if he would consent to a wingspan inspection of his vehicle before they left the site of the vehicle stop. (This type of ‘informal’ inspection supposedly focuses on ensuring the vehicle meets safety standards for road operation.)

Va’a consented to the inspection of the vehicle and the officers discovered inside the glove compartment five stacks of cash folded in rubber bands and paper clips, and three cell phones.

Upon completion of the inspection, one of the officers operated the vehicle while accompanied by Va’a and proceeded to the Fagatogo PS. The passengers (inmates) were transported separately in the other police units to the station.

Upon arrival at the Fagatogo PS, all four suspects were escorted inside the CID building and into separate interrogation rooms.

Other officers were tasked with investigating the said matter and proceeded to TCF and made contact with Warden Apoga Custodio and Assistant Warden Siaosi Leaea.

The officers informed the Warden and Assistant Warden of the incident and both verbally stated that ever since the appointment of their new director, a memo was issued prohibiting all work detail outside of TCF, therefore, all work details are no longer accepted.

The Warden further stated that all of their personnel and officers are aware of the memo from the director and there were no work details scheduled on the reported date.

The Warden explained that CO Va’a worked the night before and got off work in the morning around 7:00 a.m. of the reported date. He noted that he has warned and scolded Va’a numerous times regarding the same issue.

The Warden claimed that Va’a comes into the TCF compound and drives out with the same vehicle without asking permission of the watch commander. In addition, he does not stop to have his vehicle inspected by the guards at the front gate. Moreover, when Va’a comes to the TCF, either to work or off duty, he drives his vehicle inside the compound and parks next to the Delta unit where the inmates Mamona, Tago, and Sago are housed.

Both the Warden and Assistant Warden stated that they were not informed or aware of any work detail on the reported date. Va’a also did not ask permission or inform them about any work details outside of TCF.

Police Officers interviewed the watch commander for the day shift on the reported date, too. According to the watch commander, she was not aware or informed of any work details outside of TCF. She stated that the last time she saw Va’a inside the TCF compound was in the morning when she arrived to relieve Va’a’s shift.

In addition, another CO was interviewed and provided a verbal and written statement. He claimed that on the reported date around 2:30 p.m., he was assigned to post at one of the units and he saw Va’a walking towards the Delta unit where his vehicle was parked. At around 3:00 p.m., he saw Va’a getting into the said vehicle on the driver’s side and driving towards the front gate and leaving the TCF compound.

On the same date at around 5:30 p.m., authorities interviewed Mamona (inmate #1).

According to Mamona, they went to meet a guy by the name of Junior in Faga’itua to check a car for their potential project inside TCF. Mamona was asked who Junior was and he stated that he does not know Junior. He claimed that it was one of the inmates (Sago Semu) that knew Junior. When asked if they made contact with Junior, Mamona said “no”. Mamona added that Va’a told them that he already asked the warden for permission.

Mamona further stated that the vehicle belonged to him but due to him being incarcerated the vehicle is registered under another male individual, a former CO of TCF. Mamona claimed that the money inside the glove compartment belonged to him.

At around 5:45 p.m., police officers interviewed Semi. He verbally stated that he was sitting outside their holding unit (Delta) when their unit leader (Mamona) called out to him to come tag along to go to Junior’s house. When asked who Junior was, Semi stated that he only knows that Junior is a mechanic and they didn’t make contact with Junior.

At about 7:30 p.m., Sui was interviewed and he claimed that he only wanted to tag along for the ride but did not know anything or know anyone named Junior.

After Sui’s interview, the officers proceeded to drop off the three inmates at the TCF.

Va’a Salvation was later Mirandized to which he understood and refused to make a statement.

However, he did state that the money that was inside the car compartment with the three cell phones belonged to him. When asked about the total amount of the money, Va’a claimed that it was more than $200.00.

Salvation was booked and confined at the TCF for 48 hours to await the process of an arrest warrant.

Va’a Salvation is identified as a 25-year-old U.S National.