Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 31, 2026, a man from Iliili was arrested after he allegedly threatened to kill his parents, and damaged property inside their home, while later assaulted police officers who responded to the incident.

The defendant, Letofia Iosefa Paoapo, was taken into custody and later charged with:

Count 1 & 4: Assault in the Third Degree (As a Class C Misd.) (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of up to $300, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of up to $300, or both;

Count 3: Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both; and,

Count 5: Property Damage in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, filed in District Court on February 02, 2026, police received a distress call reporting that Mr. Paoapo was inside his family home yelling profanities and threatening to kill both of his parents.

Officers were immediately dispatched to the residence in Iliili to investigate the complaint. When officers arrived at the scene, they were met outside the residence and informed that the suspect had become aggressive and out of control shortly after arriving home.

According to the information provided to police, the suspect entered the house and began looking for food. The household pantry and refrigerator were reportedly secured with locks. When the suspect was unable to access the food, he allegedly became upset and broke the locks on both the pantry and the refrigerator.

Police say the suspect was confronted by his parents and told to stop, but he responded by yelling profanities and threatening to kill them. Fearing for their safety, the parents waited until the suspect went into his bedroom before contacting police without his knowledge.

Officers were later given consent to enter the home and were directed to the room where the suspect was located. The suspect was called upon to open the door but reportedly responded by shouting additional profanities.

The bedroom door was eventually opened using a spare key, where officers observed the suspect lying on the floor. Officers instructed him to remain still and not move; however, police say the suspect attempted to stand up while continuing to shout profanities at officers.

When officers attempted to place him under arrest, the suspect reportedly resisted, resulting in a brief struggle before he was eventually subdued and placed in handcuffs.

Police escorted the suspect outside and attempted to place him inside a police vehicle. Officers reported that they had difficulty placing him inside the rear seat due to his continued resistance. Because of the limited space, he was placed in the tailgate area of the police unit.

While officers attempted to secure him, the suspect allegedly began kicking at the officers and struck one officer in the chest with his foot.

As officers prepared to leave the scene, the suspect reportedly slammed his head into the rear right-side window of the police vehicle, causing the glass to shatter.

Police then activated their emergency lights and returned to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS).

Upon arrival at the station, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was contacted after officers noticed that the suspect had sustained a minor scratch on his forehead, believed to have been caused when he struck the vehicle window. EMS units were reportedly unavailable at the time. The suspect was offered medical attention but refused treatment.

Due to his aggressive behavior and continued noncompliance, Paoapo was booked and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he remained confined pending his appearance before the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 31-year-old U.S citizen.

[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.]