Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 24, 2024, an elderly male contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report that his son was allegedly causing a disturbance and pushed him around his living room.

The defendant was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree ( As a C Misd.), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 3: Property Damage 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 $2,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Nov. 24th, at approximately 3:42 a.m., a male individual (victim) contacted TPS for assistance regarding his son Samuel Gaisoa (suspect). The suspect was allegedly causing a disturbance at his residence. As a result, he was scared to go outside and try to stop him because he wasn’t strong enough to hold him back.

At around 3:49 a.m., police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they observed a shirtless male who was later identified as Samuel Gaisoa and a female later identified as the suspect’s wife, leaving the victim’s front gate to go to his house which is across from the father’s residence. The victim and suspect live in separate house across from each other.

As the officers exited the police unit, they met up with the victim where he verbally stated that around 3:00 a.m., he heard someone yelling profanities near by his house. He then came to see and saw his son yelling profanities in front of his house. The victim explained that the “next thing he heard is a sound of the speaker blasting out loud in front of his patio”. Moreover, he then came outside to stop his son from making unreasonable noises because he was concerned for his tenants and neighbors.

However, the suspect pushed him inside the house and then continued pushing him around inside his living room. After that the suspect came with a bat and struck the left side mirror of his vehicle. The victim stated how scared he was and felt threatened by what his son did to him.

As the officers were trying to get information from the victim, the suspect barged outside of his home holding a machete. The officers approached with caution where the suspect threw the machete away and threatened the officers by saying “be careful or I will f- you up”. The officers tried to calm the suspect down where he finally complied and the officers were able to apprehend him. The officers also met up with the suspect’s wife.

Upon making contact with the suspect, he seemed intoxicated and officers detected a strong odor of alcohol from him.

Following the investigation, the suspect was transported to the TPS and Mirandized him upon arrival at the station. The suspect refused to make a statement.

He was booked and later transported to be confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 43-year-old U.S citizen.