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Man who allegedly threatened to cut off his neighbor's head arrested on drug charges

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 39-year-old man from Nu’uuli arrested for making threatening remarks to his neighbor is now charged with violating local drug laws. Thomas Aleki made his initial appearance in court this week.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, both unclassified felonies, punishable by imprisonment from 5 to 10 years, a fine of up to $20,000 or both; along with trespass and public peace disturbance, both misdemeanors.

Bail is set at $10,000.

THE CASE

The Tafuna Police Substation (TPC) received a phone call from a young man requesting police assistance after a man came to the family home with a machete and threatened to cut off his father’s head.

Several police officers responded to the call and were able to meet up with the young man who contacted police for assistance.

According to his statement to police, his family, including his parents and three young siblings were having a good time inside their home last Friday night around 8:21p.m when a man walked in front of their house holding a machete in his right hand and shouted out to his father that if he continued to spread rumors about him (defendant) and his family, he would cut off his head with the machete.

The man was later identified as Thomas Aleki, the defendant in this case.

Aleki then left their house without any further statement to his father.

On Sunday morning, police arrested the defendant at his girlfriend’s home in Ottoville and transported him to the TPS for questioning. Before the defendant was interviewed, a body search was conducted where a glass pipe containing methamphetamine and two hand rolled marijuana joints were found inside his pants’ right pocket.

After he was informed of his constitutional rights, Aleki said that he understood his rights and refused to make a statement to police.