Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 25, 2026, local police responded to a reported assault in the village of Aoa, where a man allegedly punched another individual in the face following an ongoing dispute between the two parties.

The defendant was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1 : Assault in the Third Degree, a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 15 days, a fine of not more than $300, or both such imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both; and,

Count 3: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, officers arrived in Aoa to investigate the incident, and upon arrival, they made contact with the victim, who identified himself and provided details regarding the alleged assault.

Authorities observed that the victim had no visible injuries at the time, and he later agreed to provide a written statement outlining the events that led up to the incident.

In his statement, the victim explained that the conflict between him and the suspect, Sitafine Talosaga, stemmed from an earlier dispute involving a borrowed speaker. He stated that about a week prior, he had asked an elderly woman — who is related to the suspect — if he could borrow a speaker. After receiving permission, he took the speaker for personal use.

The victim further stated that shortly afterward, the elderly woman’s son and another relative approached him requesting the return of the speaker. He claimed that he asked for additional time and suggested they return later that afternoon to retrieve it, to which they agreed. However, the victim said he later left for the village of Amouli to run errands and was not present when the individuals returned to his home.

The victim explained that returning from his errands, he discovered that his house had been vandalized — broken windows and shattered glass scattered throughout the residence. He suspected that the same individuals who had requested the return of the speaker were responsible.

The situation escalated further when the suspect — identified as a relative of those involved — allegedly confronted the victim while armed with a machete. The victim stated that the suspect chased him, but he managed to escape.

The victim also described a separate incident that occurred days later, during which the suspect allegedly chased him again, this time with a piece of lumber while he was working at a residence in the area.

According to the victim, the most recent incident occurred on March 25th, when he went to the suspect’s home for a task. He alleged that the suspect approached him and punched him twice in the face without warning. The victim stated that he fled the scene immediately after the assault and contacted police for assistance.

He also indicated that two other individuals were present during the altercation.

Following the victim’s report, officers went to the suspect’s residence, where they located and apprehended him without incident. Authorities noted that the suspect did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of his arrest.

He was  transported to the Fagaitua Police Substation (FPS) for further investigation.

The suspect was advised of his constitutional rights in the presence of officers and agreed to provide a statement.

During the initial interview, the suspect denied assaulting the victim and claimed that he only intended to intimidate him from coming near his property. He alleged that the victim had previously taken the speaker and failed to return it, and also accused the victim of assaulting his son and stealing a piggy bank belonging to a family member.

According to the affidavit, the suspect however later admitted during further questioning that he had, in fact, assaulted the victim. He reportedly expressed remorse and asked for leniency.

Police records also revealed that the suspect has a prior conviction. According to an abstract obtained from the Department of Public Safety, he was previously found guilty of private peace disturbance and third-degree property damage involving family violence in December 2024.

The suspect was formally booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next sitting of the District Court.

Authorities also confirmed that, due to ongoing safety concerns, the victim has since been removed from the village of Aoa. The case remains under investigation as officials continue to review the circumstances surrounding the dispute and the series of escalating incidents between the parties involved.

The defendant was identified as a 52-year-old citizen of Samoa.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 26, 2026.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court.