Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man has been accused of assaulting his girlfriend, after her father reported the incident to the police.

Tafaotaua Bryce is being charged with two criminal counts:

One count of Private Peace Disturbance (DV) — a class C misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 days, a fine of $300, but not less that $150, or both; and

One count of Assault in Third Degree (DV) — a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both, but not less that $150.

Bail was set at $3,000.

On October 31, 2023, the father of a female who was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend, reported the incident at the Tafuna Police Substation. Moa Fatu, the father, walked into TPS and reported that Tafaotaua Bryce had assaulted his daughter, Beverly Fatu. He said he “observed redness on his daughter’s facial area” and afterward asked her what happened, and she told him that “she got beaten up by her boyfriend.”

“He then decided to report the said matter,” the affidavit states.

The daughter was interviewed on the same day at the TPS. Ms Fatu explained that Mr. Bryce wanted her to come over to his house, but she told him that her parents would not allow it.

“When she had the chance, she told him that she was about to leave the house so she went to get food before she left.”

However, when she got to his house, he wasn’t there and she waited for about 2- 5 minutes until he came. She said when she got inside the vehicle, he slapped her once in the face, asking why she had come late, and also swore at her using profane words. She said he “then grabbed her by her shirt and started punching her in the face with a closed fist four times…”

She said Bryce “thought that she was late because she with someone else. After he assaulted her, she left to go home.”

According to the affidavit, Ms. Fatu sustained minor injuries from the assault.

Mr Bryce was picked up by police and brought to the TPS and Mirandized. He agreed to make a verbal statement.

According to Bryce, he got into a verbal argument with Ms. Fatu and “he got pissed and punched her once in the face with a closed fist.

“After he punched her, they managed to talk things out before he left to go home.”

The defendant was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility until the next sitting of the District Court.

Both the defendant and the victim are U.S. nationals.