Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 25, 2024 at about 2:20pm, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) was contacted by a male individual who was requesting assistance regarding his nephew, later identified as David Sagapolutele. The reporter claimed that the suspect was disturbing the peace by allegedly yelling profanities and throwing stones at his (reporter’s) home.

The defendant was charged with one count of Public Peace Disturbance — a class B misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for six (6) months, a fine of $500, or both.

Bail for the defendant was set at $1000.

When officers arrived at the scene, they spoke to the reporter who had called for assistance.

According to the affidavit, he stated that “this is not the first time his nephew had done such a thing towards his family.” The victim explained that there have been many incidents in the past and many phone calls that have been made to the police station regarding his nephew and the behavior he has towards his family.

Concerning this incident, the victim stated that he and his wife were in their living room when they heard the suspect cursing outside of their home. It was then that the victim alleged he had observed the suspect “walking away and threw stones at their home and it kept hitting the rooftop repeatedly.”

The victim said that “he can’t understand why his nephew is behaving this way.”

Police officers noted that the victim and the suspect reside on the same land but have their own houses on the land.

The victim pointed out the suspect’s home and police officers proceeded towards the suspect’s house. Upon arrival at the suspect’s home, officers requested that the suspect step out of the house. The suspect was apprehended and placed in the police unit to be transported to the TPS for further questioning.

Officers were unable to Mirandize the suspect as he “refused and wasn’t cooperating with the investigation.”

The defendant was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) to await the next sitting of court.

The suspect was identified as a 23-year-old U.S. National.