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Man walking around with a machete — wife says he claims he is possessed by demons

American Samoa District Court building
Tells police to keep him locked up
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 43-year-old man from Malaeimi, who was walking around with a machete in hand, has been arrested and charged with private peace disturbance and third degree assault. Alema Siaosi made his initial appearance in District Court this week before Judge Elvis P. Patea.

Siaosi is being held in custody on a ‘no bail’ status until his next court date, which is Jan. 30th

THE CASE

On Monday, Jan. 06, 2020 the Tafuna Police Station received a call from a woman regarding her uncle being angry and walking around with a machete.

When police arrived, the woman told them that Siaosi is her mom’s brother and he moved on to the family land a month ago after he and his family were evicted from their former residence.

According to the woman, she and her mother approached Siaosi regarding their living arrangements on the land, and that’s when Siaosi became angry, saying they were trying to get rid of him. Siaosi accused his sister and her children of trying to set something up so police can arrest him because they know he’s on probation for a prior conviction.

The woman told police she tried to talk to Siaosi but he started yelling, telling her that her mother (Siaosi’s sister) was a bad person who doesn’t know how to lead a family and make everyone live peacefully. He allegedly slammed a table, grabbed the machete, and proceeded to walk around the area in anger, as if he was looking to provoke violence.

When the young woman (who contacted police) tried to stop Siaosi from walking on the street, Siaosi punched her in the face, causing her to retreat. The woman then called her husband and asked him to come home but he told her to call police because his office was busy at that time.

The woman and her mother left their home and headed for the road, to avoid further contact with Siaosi who allegedly made verbal threats that he was going to shoot or kill somebody over the matter.

Police apprehended Siaosi and took him into custody. Cops say Siaosi was sober throughout the ordeal, although during the booking process, he started acting strange, talking to himself and an invisible being, as if he was delirious. Siaosi’s spouse told officers that her husband constantly claims to be possessed by demons.

Siaosi allegedly asked police to keep him in jail because if they release him, something serious will happen to his sister and her daughter, who contacted police.

BACKGROUND

Siaosi is serving a 2-year probation term, after he was convicted of assaulting a man during a drinking session at home. Siaosi struck the man on the head with a piece of a metal pipe and kicked him in the face while he was on the ground.