Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 21, 2024, police officers responded to an alleged disturbance and caught the suspect attempting to flee the scene in his vehicle. The suspect was stopped and arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Peni Ulugalu Jr. was arrested and later charged with:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years, and a fine of not less than $5,000.00 nor more than $20,000.00, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.00.

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 21st, at about 10:55 p.m., police officers responded to an alleged disturbance in the eastern side of the island. Upon arrival at the scene, the officers observed the suspect — Peni Ulugalu Jr. — leaving the scene in his car.

Authorities were aware that the suspect had an active warrant for his arrest, and he was therefore stopped and detained.

The suspect was Mirandized and later transported to the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS). His vehicle was also impounded.

Upon arrival at the FPS, the suspect was Mirandized and before he was transported to be confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF), his vehicle was inventoried for any valuable items.

During the inventory, officers discovered a black shade cover in the back seat area underneath the driver’s seat which contained a glass pipe (used for smoking methamphetamine).

Inside the glass pipe was an usable amount of crystalline substance. When asked about the item, the suspect replied that it was not his. (It was noted that Ulugalu Jr. was the only one found in the vehicle.)

Ulugalu Jr. was booked and confined at the TCF to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

Authorities tested the found crystalline substance and it yielded a positive result for methamphetamine (meth). The evidence was documented and turned into the Evidence Custodial.

The defendant is identified as a 28-year-old U.S National.

(Samoa News points out that Ulugalu Jr. was also arrested on Dec. 15, 2024 during a traffic stop — his truck was seen swerving “in the middle of the lane passing the double lines and onto the westbound lane”, according to the court affidavit. He did not have a driver’s license on him at the time either. He was taken to the police station and an inventory of the truck was conducted in his presence. During the inventory, meth was allegedly found in the truck and at the time it was noted that he was Mirandized, booked and transported to TCF for 48 hours to await the next available sitting of the court.)