Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 20, 2025, a victim of a domestic dispute called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that her husband assaulted her after she refused to give him money for meth.

The suspect fled the scene but was later charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Public Peace Disturbance (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six months, a fine of $500, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identity of the victim and children in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, on Oct 20th, after a woman called the TPS and reported that her husband (the suspect) allegedly assaulted her, police officers proceeded to the call, and upon arrival, they met with the victim, who showed them her right hand with a bruised and swollen finger.

According to the victim, she was struck by her husband with the larger end of a pool stick. She informed the officers that she was inside a store when the suspect assaulted her — striking her with a pool stick, which he aimed at her head. However,  she was able to use her right arm to cover her head and ended up being hit in her finger.

The victim explained that it all started in the morning, around 7:45 a.m., after her youngest was dropped off at school. The suspect asked her for money, and she told him that she did not have time to stop by the bank, and asked the suspect what he needed the money for, and he replied that he wanted to buy meth.

The victim stated that she told the suspect that she didn't have money for drugs, but only for their children's food.

In response, the suspect yelled profanities and told her to get out of the house or he was going to beat her up with the pool stick.

The victim said that she quickly left the house, but the suspect followed her to the Laundromat in Pavaiai. He then entered the store and told her to come out and give him her money, or he would beat her with the pool stick. The victim stated that he ignored the suspect, and that’s when he struck her with the pool stick.

The investigation later revealed that the victim and suspect lived together in Pavaiai. The victim informed the officers that this has been an ongoing issue with the suspect and that it occurs every week. She continued to explain that her children listen to the verbal threats he uses against her.

She said that the previous week, the suspect had threatened to beat her to death and cut her with a machete. The victim informed the authorities that she is scared and worried for her and her children's safety. She also noted that at one time, the suspect threatened to cut her and her children with a machete and to burn their house down.

A follow-up investigation was conducted at the Laundromat where the incident occurred. The owner assisted with viewing footage of the incident, which showed the suspect running to the Laundromat's entrance door, where the victim was standing in front of the cashier.

The suspect held the lower half of a pool stick in his right hand and the upper half in his left. He then attempted to swing the stick at the victim, but the victim pushed him back. After being pushed back, the suspect swung again, which struck the victim on her right hand, which she used to cover her face.

The suspect fled the scene and was not found during the time of the incident.

The defendant is identified as a 53-year-old citizen of Tonga.