Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man from Futiga was taken into custody following an alleged domestic disturbance involving alcohol and an assault of a minor, a family member, according to an affidavit filed in District Court on January 20, 2026.

The suspect was later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV) With Enhancements, a class C misdemeanor with penalty enhancement one class above the class otherwise provided as a class B misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not to exceed $500, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV) With Enhancement, a class A misdemeanor with penalty enhancement one class above the class otherwise provided as a class D felony, punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine not less than $150, or both.

The suspect was held without bail.

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

According to the affidavit, the incident occurred on the evening of Jan. 16th at a residence in Futiga where several family members were present. Police reported that the suspect had been consuming alcohol throughout the evening and began exhibiting aggressive and erratic behavior inside the home.

The suspect’s father told officers that he instructed his son to stop drinking and rest, expressing concern over his behavior. However, the suspect allegedly refused to comply and instead began shouting profanities and demanding to be left alone. The father attempted to calm the suspect and de-escalate the situation, but the suspect reportedly challenged him to a physical confrontation.

Feeling frustrated and concerned that the situation might escalate further, the father chose to walk away from the immediate area. In his statement to police, he noted that similar incidents had occurred in the past whenever the suspect became intoxicated.

Police report that after the confrontation with his father, the suspect turned his attention to his younger brother, a minor who was standing nearby and was not involved in the argument.

The victim reportedly remained passive and did not provoke the suspect in any way. The suspect allegedly punched the victim twice in the right shoulder. The victim pushed the suspect away and immediately instructed his sister to contact the police.

Upon hearing that law enforcement had been called, the suspect fled the residence on foot.

Officers arrived to find the victim and the father waiting outside the residence, with the suspect not present.

Police conducted separate interviews with the individuals involved. The victim told officers that he had been standing between his father and the suspect during the verbal argument and was not participating in the confrontation. He stated that the suspect suddenly yelled at him and struck him twice in the shoulder. The victim said he pushed the suspect away to protect himself and told his sister to call the police.

Police noted that the victim did not display any visible injuries and declined medical treatment at the scene.

The father told officers that he observed the suspect drinking alcohol and behaving unusually throughout the evening. He stated that the suspect shouted profanities and claimed that no one had the authority to stop him from drinking.

The suspect allegedly asked his father if he wanted to fight and further stated that he would beat up anyone who tried to stop him from drinking.

The father reported that a short time later, the suspect continued yelling and, without apparent reason, struck the victim. The father then told the suspect that police had already been called, and the suspect immediately fled the residence.

The sister who contacted police stated that she did not witness the physical assault but heard her father and younger brother urgently calling her name and instructing her to call police, to which she complied and placed the call to the Leone Police Substation (LPS).

After completing interviews at the residence, officers began searching for the suspect in the surrounding area. Police proceeded to a location in Futiga where the suspect was known to frequent. The suspect was later observed walking along the roadway.

Officers approached the suspect and addressed him by name. The suspect responded to officers and was taken into custody without incident.

At the LPS, the suspect was advised of his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with officers. According to police, the suspect denied all allegations made against him and claimed he did not assault the victim.

Despite his denial, police determined there was sufficient cause to place the suspect under arrest based on the statements of the victim and witnesses at the scene.

The suspect was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility pending his next appearance before the District Court.

Court documents note that the suspect, the victim, and the father all reside in the same household. Police also noted that this was not the first time the suspect had become aggressive while intoxicated, according to the father’s statement.

The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding domestic disturbances involving alcohol and family members. Police have repeatedly emphasized the importance of reporting such incidents promptly, particularly when minors are involved.

The defendant is identified as a 28-year-old citizen of Samoa.

[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. ra]