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Man allegedly assaults bystander — for no reason

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 33-year-old male who has a pending criminal case in District Court was arrested by police last month on the allegation that he assaulted a man and challenged several people to a fight.

When questioned by police, the defendant, Alesana Vaili said that the reason he did these things was because he was mad at his uncle for accusing him of selling drugs in the village.

The government stated in its case that on Apr. 10th, 2021 around 4:47a.m, a couple called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding a male individual who was throwing beer bottle on the road and was shouting profanities. He was also threatening them and challenging them to a fight. The male individual was later identified as Vaili, the defendant in this matter.

Several police officers responded to the call and met up with the couple who briefed them regarding the alleged incident. They told police that the defendant had walked toward their vehicle parked in front of an Asian store in the Tafuna area and made threatening remarks to them. He then challenged the husband to a fight.

Officers attempted to locate the defendant in the Tafuna-Ottoville area, but the defendant was nowhere to be found. Officers returned to the area where the alleged incident occurred and were able to speak to a security guard at a nearby store, who witnessed the incident, beginning a male individual walking on the road shouting profanities and Samoan war cries several times, as as the defendant got near the bus stop, the man punched another man who was walking on the road for no reason.

The defendant then turned around and saw a vehicle parked in front of a store and approached the couple sitting inside the vehicle.

As cops were looking for more witnesses, they observed a male standing in front of a nearby bus stop with injuries on his face.

He told officers that he sustained injuries just a few moments earlier after a man punched him. EMS personnel were immediately contacted for assistance. He described the incident as happening suddenly, which included not only alleged punches in the face, but when he fell, he was also kicked in his back and side by the unknown man.

Footage of the incident was caught on video tape, and police identified the defendant. The defendant was apprehended and was transported to the TPS for further investigation. He told investigators that he did all of that because he was very intoxicated and he was out of control.

He admitted to police that he yelled profanities and threatened a couple and later assaulted a man walking on the road.

Vaili made his initial appearance in court last month.

Vaili is charged with 2nd degree assault, a class D felony, along with two misdemeanor charges including attempted property damage and public peace disturbance (PPD).

Bail is set at $10,000.