Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 27, 2025, Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a concerned mother about her minor daughter being threatened by a man and alleged that he had also assaulted his girlfriend.

Mathew Meleisea was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Property Damage in the Third Degree, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of up to $300, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $2,000.

Court records revealed that on Apr. 27th, at approximately 12: 26 p.m., a woman (later identified as the reporter) contacted the TPS to report an alleged assault. The reporter stated that an individual named Mathew Meleisea (suspect) was causing a disturbance in front of their home and had assaulted his girlfriend (later identified as the victim #1).

The reporter further stated that her daughter (victim #2) intervened and yelled at the suspect to stop. However, the suspect threatened her daughter, who is a minor and punched a window of their home causing the louver to shatter into pieces.

Police officers responded to the call and upon approaching the reporter’s residence, a woman approached them and identified herself as the reporter. She explained that upon returning home from church, she observed broken glass from a louver window that was shattered on the ground. She was approached by victim #2, who informed her of the incident.

Victim #2 told her mother that the suspect yelled profanities at her and threatened her. The reporter further stated that she was upset and questioned who would threaten a minor in such a manner.

The reporter also asked her husband who was at home at the time, and had been cooking in the kitchen area. The reporter’s husband stated that upon hearing the sound of breaking glass, he immediately responded and observed the suspect pulling victim #1 away before walking down the roadway.

Victim #2 was interviewed and she explained that she heard noises outside her home, and when she exited her room to investigate, she observed the suspect standing in the garage area with victim #1. She proceeded to the living room, where she saw the suspect walk past the window and assault victim #1. Victim #2 stated that she immediately yelled at the suspect to stop and asked him who he was to do such a thing in front of their home.

Victim #2 continued that the suspect yelled back profanities in Samoan and told her to leave them alone and it’s none of her business. Victim #2 further stated that the suspect threatened her by telling her to “watch out” and that if he saw her on the road, he would beat her up and kill her.

She then yelled back and told the suspect to get away from their property. In response, the suspect punched the living room window and broke the louver. At that time, her father ran towards her upon hearing the glass shattering but was unable to intervene as the suspect had already pulled his girlfriend away and was walking towards the road.

Authorities proceeded to locate the suspect at one of the residences after learning that victim #1 and the suspect live in a shack belonging to one of the residents. The resident provided consent for the officers to enter the shack where the suspect was apprehended and placed inside the police unit and was transported to the TPS.

EMS arrived at the station and treated victim #1. She was interviewed after treatment.

According to victim #1, the incident occurred while they were attending church. She explained that she became angry when the suspect told her to move aside because there was a large space on the chair and that he was hot. She stated that she felt embarrassed when she heard girls laughing from the back of the church after the suspect told her to move.

Furthermore, the suspect then walked outside and she followed him where she confronted him about his actions. She stated that she slapped the suspect’s mouth because she was furious. The suspect told her to go back inside the church while he went to buy some cigarettes.

However, the victim explained that she followed the suspect and they continued to argue in front of a family’s home. The suspect then slapped her in the face which caused her to fall to the ground. The suspect slapped her hard again on her mouth which caused her to sustain a busted lip and a bleeding nose.

The victim stated that the suspect then helped her up and they walked away. However, they overheard a girl yelling from inside the house, and the suspect got angry and started yelling profanities in Samoan at the girl. Moreover, the suspect punched the living room window and broke a louver.

The suspect was Mirandized which said he understood and agreed to make a statement.

During his interrogation, he stated that he got angry inside the church when his girlfriend woke him up while he was napping. He claimed that he told victim #1 to move aside because there was a large space where she could sit and give him some air. The suspect said that he got angry and felt embarrassed because the people in church heard them. He then walked outside to get some air but the victim followed him. He told the victim to go back to church because he was embarrassed. However, the victim slapped his mouth which shocked him.

After the victim slapped him, he told her that he was going to buy some cigarettes but the victim kept following him. The suspect explained that they argued in front of a house and admitted to slapping the victim three times and caused her to fall to the ground. He said he helped her up and walked away. But, he overheard a girl yelling from inside the house and he yelled back telling her it’s none of her business and to leave them alone. However, the girl continued yelling at him which led him to punch the window.

The suspect was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as 32-year-old U.S National.