Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man whose driver’s license was suspended by the Court last November after his second conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol was arrested by police last month after he was found driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Sinoti Teofilo made his initial appearance in Court last month.

He is charged with one count of felony driving while his license is suspended, a class D felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE CASE

On Feb. 26, 2022, two police officers stationed in front of the Iakina Adventist School in Iliili observed a vehicle heading east speeding and almost colliding with another vehicle. The vehicle was operated by Sinoti Teofilo, the defendant in this matter.

Officers initiated a traffic stop but the vehicle did not stop, and kept swerving into the other lane. The speed of the police unit was clocked at 60mph and officers still could not catch up with the vehicle.

The vehicle then made a sharp turn into the dirt road next to the Talalelei church and kept going until it came to a stop at the end of the road. When officers approached the vehicle they told the driver to turn his vehicle off but he refused.

The officers then ordered the driver to step out of the vehicle and again he refused. Officers then approached the vehicle and opened its door and ordered the driver to step out of the vehicle, and he did.

While attempting to put handcuffs on the driver, a strong odor of alcohol was detected from inside the vehicle and on him.

He also refused to put his hands behind his back and kept pushing officers back.

He was later subdued and was transported to the Tafuna Police Substation for further investigation. He was booked and confined at the Territorial Correctional Facility to await the next sitting of District Court.

Court records show that Teofilo had previously pled guilty to two separate counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, a class A misdemeanor