Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 25, 2024 at about 8:13am, Nauru Tea contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report that his older brother, Gavin Tea, was allegedly causing a disturbance in their home by using a baseball bat to break valuable items.

The defendant was charged with the following:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV) — a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both; and,

Count 2: Property Damage in the Second Degree — a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1000, or both.

Bail for the defendant was set at $1000.

According to the affidavit, as police officers arrived, they met with the reporter and victim at the neighbor’s home. The victims pointed out the suspect who was standing outside of their home with a baseball bat in his hand. The reporter presented photos of the damage done to their home and vehicle by the suspect.

In the photos, officers observed a broken door frame belonging to the reporter and a hole in the living room drywall. Also pictured was a dent on the right side of the hood of the vehicle. Police officers noted that an estimate for the damages could not be determined, however the cost would exceed $300. The vehicle that was damaged belonged to the suspect’s mother and her husband.

Police officers approached the suspect and advised him to put the baseball bat down and the suspect threw the bat on the ground. The suspect was apprehended and placed in the police unit as police officers continued their investigation.

According to the reporter, “his brother asked their mother for money to give to the man in their village that he used to smoke meth (ice) with, whereas their mother refused to give the suspect the money.”

The reporter said that the suspect became angry and started to yell profanities at his mother. The suspect then made his way to the reporter’s bedroom and kicked the door, breaking the door frame. The suspect then grabbed the baseball bat and started hitting the wall of their house.

The reporter stated, “he grabbed his mother’s hand and immediately left the house because his mother was scared and shaken when the suspect broke things inside their house.”

The suspect began threatening the reporter by yelling out twice that “he will kill him if he sees him again”. As the reporter and victim approached their neighbor’s house, they heard a loud bang which caused the reporter to call the TPS for assistance.

According to the victim (mother of suspect and reporter), “they were having breakfast when the suspect asked her for money to give the man in the village that he used to smoke meth with, whereas she refused to give him money.” It was then that the suspect began yelling profanities at her, walked to her son’s bedroom and kicked the bedroom door, and broke the door frame.

The victim further explained that the suspect “grabbed the baseball bat and started hitting the wall inside the house.” She was afraid and felt relief as her son (reporter) pulled her out of the house and took her over to the neighbor’s house. As they approached their neighbor’s house, the victim recalled the loud bang that came from their home that sounded like the suspect hit her car that was parked outside their home.

Police officers noted that both victims wanted to file a complaint against the suspect because this was not the first time the suspect has done something like this.

The suspect was transported to the TPS and Mirandized.

In his statement, the suspect claimed “he was upset because his brother didn’t give a couple in the village money because they helped his brother file his tax.” The suspect stated, “he asked them but his brother and mother refused and said wait until tomorrow.”

The suspect then explained that he “became upset and started shouting profanity [sic] inside their home.” He (suspect) kicked his brother’s bedroom door “because he hid the food inside his room”.

He further explained that he “grabbed the baseball bat and started hitting the wall in the living room.” He also threatened his brother saying, “he will kill him if he sees him again.” Afterwards, he walked towards his parents’ truck and hit it twice with the baseball bat.

The suspect was identified as a 27-year-old citizen of Samoa.