Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 5, 2024, a female individual contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) to request assistance regarding a male individual who was allegedly causing a disturbance. The reporter claimed that the defendant also assaulted individuals including his 6-month-old son.

The suspect was later arrested after resisting arrest and charged with:

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 imprisonment and fine;

Count 2, 5, & 6: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both;

Count 3: Endangering a Welfare of a Child (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both;

Count 4: 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 $150.00, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 7: Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $50,000.

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

According to the affidavit, on October 5th, at about 8:14 a.m., a female contacted the FPS requesting assistance regarding a family allegedly making loud noises and fighting at their residence. Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene at around 8:25 a.m., they observed the suspect and an unknown female individual standing in front of a building.

The female individual (later identified as the second reporter and also a victim) approached the officers while they exited the police unit. The victim verbally explained what happened.

She stated that the suspect was fighting with her brother while she and her little sister tried to stop them. As a result, the suspect turned on them — punching her in the eye and beating up her little sister. The victim stated that the suspect also picked up his six-month-old son by the collar of his shirt and slapped his mouth.

The officers then notified the suspect that they were going to take him into the FPS for questioning. However, the suspect became aggressive and started resisting arrest.

According to the affidavit, the suspect got up and yelled and cursed at the victim and started running towards her. The officers were able to stop the suspect, scuffing him to the ground, but he became more aggressive and continued resisting arrest.

The suspect kept pushing the officers’ hands away while the officers were trying to grab him. The suspect also bull-rushed one of the officers where he used his head to assault the officer in his chest area. More officers were able to assist in the arresting the suspect and he was finally subdued and transported immediately to the FPS for the booking process.

The officers also transported the victims and witness to the FPS to be interviewed.

According to the reporter/ victim, she was heading to work when her little sister called and cried over the phone and told her what was going on. She explained that she asked to be excused from work and went back to the house. When she arrived, she saw how disrespectful and vicious the suspect was — he was cursing and making unreasonable loud noises.

The victim stated that she and her sister (victim #2) were trying to break up the fight between the suspect and her brother whereas the suspect turned around and assaulted them. In turn, she grabbed a chair and threw it at the suspect, whereas he ran towards them and punched both of them multiple times causing injuries to their faces.

Furthermore, the victim alleged that the suspect also punched her other little sister who is pregnant and almost hit her stomach on one of the poles on the patio.

The victim said that as she tried to contact the police, the suspect threw rocks at her and luckily she was not hit. The suspect continued to curse at the victim and accused her of siding with her brother.

When the police arrived the suspect continued to yell profanities. According to victim #2, she was at work at the time when her little sister called her and told her that her boyfriend and little brother were getting into a heated argument at their home.

When she got home her boyfriend/ partner wasn’t there so she spoke with her little brother. As the brother was telling her that the suspect was bringing up every good deed he had done for the family, she saw her boyfriend walking towards them from outside the house and rushed over to beat up her brother.

Victim #2 explained that she got up and held back her boyfriend and her older sister pulled her brother back trying to avoid what was about to happen. However, the suspect got angry and punched her in the face and chest and told her to get off and let him go. He also cussed out loud calling her sisters and brother names and for them to get out.

She stated that her sister couldn’t calm him down so she contacted the police.

A witness was also interviewed and she stated that she called one of the victims because the suspect came home drunk and started breaking stuff in the house. He also slung his six-month-old son up by his shirt collar and slapped his mouth. She claimed that the suspect also fought her little brother when they called his girlfriend (their sister).

The suspect also assaulted the two female individuals who tried to stop the fight.

According to another victim (little brother), the suspect came home drunk and started breaking stuff in the house and was swearing out loud. He called his sister to come home as soon as possible because the suspect (her boyfriend) was being belligerent. He stated that is when the suspect put his hands on him. When his two sisters arrived to stop the fight, the suspect punched one of his sisters in the face.

On October 5th, at 9:02 a.m., the suspect was booked at the FPS and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined while awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

The suspect is identified as a 22-year-old citizen of Samoa.