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Man charged with assaulting family members after he allegedly threatens to hang himself

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reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man has been arrested and charged for assaulting members of his family while intoxicated. They were allegedly trying to stop him from hanging himself.

Sila Felise is charged with the following:

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

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV) - a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1000, or both; and,

Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree (As a C Misd.) (DV) - a class C misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, but not less than $150, or both.

Bail for the defendant was set at $1000.

On December 12, 2023, in the evening, a woman contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) seeking assistance for her intoxicated brother who was identified as Sila Felise.

The distressed sister claimed that Felise (defendant) was under the influence of alcohol and was causing a disturbance in their home. She stated that family members were trying to hold him down to prevent him from hanging himself.

Police officers responded to the call from the distraught sister met up with her upon arriving at the scene. She pointed out where the defendant was and officers witnessed Felise using an extension cord to strangle himself.

Officers apprehended the defendant and detected a strong odor of alcohol from his breath.

When the sister was interviewed at the scene, she alleged that “at about 6:00 pm, her brother (suspect) was drinking alcohol and punched her nephew for no reason.”

She further stated that the defendant tried to throw a rock at her nephew and threatened to cut him with a machete that was in his hand. She explained that her nephew needed to leave the house because her brother (suspect) was “getting more angry and aggressive the more he saw the nephew.”

The sister then called the TPS in hopes of receiving assistance for her brother because Felise claimed that he was going to kill himself for the mistreatment he was receiving from his own family.

Felise was transported to the TPS to be processed. He was Mirandized and refused to make a statement.

He was then booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined.

Police officers were unable to locate the nephew.