Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 4, 2024, a Department of Public Safety (DPS) police officer contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding a female who allegedly assaulted her boyfriend on the Nuuuli Public Highway, near Family Mart store.

The defendant, Hilda Luki was charged with the following:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance (DV), a class B misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to six (6) months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Assault in Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1000, or both.

Bail was set at $300.

According to the affidavit, upon arrival at the scene at about 7 am, police officers observed the reporting DPS officer and a family member holding back the defendant, Luki. Police officers then detained both the victim and defendant inside the police unit and transported them to the TPS for further investigation.

The affidavit stated that according to the DPS officer who reported the assault, he was driving to work when he saw a female (Luki) grab her boyfriend’s shirt and continuously slap him in the face and body. The officer stated that the boyfriend kept walking back to avoid Luki from beating him but she kept coming after him and slapped him several times.

The DPS officer quickly exited his vehicle and walked towards the couple to stop the matter and when he got there he heard Luki threaten her boyfriend three times that she would kill him. The DPS officer then contacted the TPS for assistance.

The victim’s sister, in a verbal statement, explained that she was on her way to work when she observed Luki swinging her arms towards her brother (victim) and hitting him in the back of the head. At that time, her brother crossed the Public Highway, but Luki ran after him and dragged him by his shirt, while punching him continuously.

She said that her brother “then pushed Luki from the back to avoid the said incident, but she continued “to beat him up”. Luki was also shouting profanities.

The affidavit stated that according to the victim’s verbal statement, he was rushing to the store because it was raining at the time, to buy a soda. However, his girlfriend, Luki was mad at him because he didn’t talk to her because he was rushing to the store.

He said she followed him to the store then waited outside the store for him. When he came outside, she slapped him in the face and the back of his head first. The victim stated that he ignored it, but Luki kept coming after him and slapping him nonstop.

He stated “he pushed Luki back by the back of her neck to try to stop her from hitting him, and crossed to the other side of the road to avoid her. But, she followed him and pulled his shirt towards her and continued to slap his face several times.

A few minutes later, his sister and the DPS officer jumped in and stopped the defendant from assaulting him. At the same time, the defendant continued being aggressive and shouting profanities.

The victim further stated this is not the first time his girlfriend had done this to him and it has been an ongoing issue where Luki would come over to his house and cause a scene.

Luki was Mirandized and she waived her rights and agreed to make a statement regarding the incident.

According to Luki’s verbal statement, she admitted to assaulting her boyfriend by slapping him several times and grabbing him by the shirt.

She also claimed that her boyfriend slapped her at the back of her neck.

No injuries were observed on either party.

Luki was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility awaiting the next sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a U. S National.