Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who  got caught after allegedly breaking into the American Samoa TeleCommunication Authority (ASTCA) warehouse last week, has been charged by the Department of Public of Safety.

George Urle made his initial appearance in the District Court this week and is being held on bail of $5,000.

The defendant is facing two felony counts of burglary; stealing and misdemeanor trespassing.

According to the criminal complaint against Urle, police received a call for assistance on Aug. 18, 2022, about an “unknown person” who had broken into the ASTCA warehouse and he was still in the warehouse at the time.

Police responded and upon arrival observed a black backpack, metal rod, black hat and shoes by the roller door of the warehouse.

 “Furthermore the officers observed a brick rock that was used at the time to hold up the roller.”

The ASCTA warehouse contained tools and office supplies and inside there was a small sink cabinet where Urle was allegedly hiding. Police discovered three android cellphones, a phone charger, canned food and zip-ties under the sink where the defendant was hiding and it was confirmed those items were property of ASTCA.

According to the criminal complaint, officers conducted an inventory on the scene of the defendant’s black backpack that was left outside the warehouse, in the presence of the defendant and discovered, “boxes of spark plugs, bag of screws, batteries, a bag of nuts and bolts, wrench, pliers, and charging cables that belonged to ASTCA.”

 Furthermore officers also discovered what appeared to be a glass pipe that was inside a small bag inside the backpack and Vice and Narcotics were then contacted about the glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine or ice.