Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 19, 2024, an off-duty police officer contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) regarding a male individual allegedly throwing stones at passing vehicles.

The defendant was apprehended and later charged with:

Count 1,2,3 & 4: Property Damage in Second Degree, class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both.

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

According to the affidavit, on August 19th, at about 11:26 a.m, FPS received a call from an off-duty officer reporting that a male was throwing stones at passing vehicles on the road near the private school in Fatu ma Futi.

Police officers arrived at the scene and apprehended the defendant who was later identified by his mother as Melvin Ve’e.

According to the responding officer, upon approaching the defendant, he resisted arrest by aggressively pulling himself away from him and the other officers. Fortunately, more officers were able to assist in apprehending the defendant and secured him into the police unit.

The defendant was transported to the FPS where he was booked and later confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The affidavit also stated that four vehicles were seriously damaged by the defendant and that he also caused an elderly female in her late 70s to go into shock. The elderly woman was treated by medics and transported to the LBJ Hospital Emergency Room for further check-up.

The owner of the first vehicle struck by a stone reported a major dent on the right top passenger side of the hood. The second vehicle also had a major dent on the right rear passenger door. The third car was reported to have its windshield shattered and the fourth car also had a major dent on its left rear passenger door.

The defendant is identified as a 29-year-old U.S National.