Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 31, 2024, a car rental business owner contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) regarding his missing rental car, which he had sighted and alleged had an altered license plate.

Viiga Ta’ala was apprehended and charged with the following charges:

Count 1: Stealing, a class C felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than seven years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both;

Count 2: Tampering in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than one- year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both; and,

Count 3: False Plates, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than six months, a fine of not more than $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $15,000.

According to the affidavit, a business owner contacted the FPS to report the sighting of a white RAV-4 resembling the rental car he had been seeking since July 19, 2024.

He said he observed the RAV-4 as he was en route to ACE Hardware. The owner alleged that the vehicle in question matched his rental vehicle, which had an altered license plate.

The owner of the rental car made his claim by identifying a slight scratch on the windshield and the absence of the rear tire cap on the left-hand side.

He also said, he observed a male individual asleep in the driver’s seat. It was at this point, according to the owner, he promptly called the FPS to apprise them of the situation while requesting police assistance at the Aveina store parking lot in Nu’uuli.

Once the call was received, the dispatcher contacted police officers to request enforcement assistance for the call at Aveina, in Nuuuli.

During the call, it was brought to the attention of the officers that the license plate provided by the owner did not correspond to the vehicle information registered in the system. Instead, the license plate provided was associated with a black 2002 Toyota Tacoma registered under someone else, whereas the white RAV-4 observed parked in front of the Aveina store had the license plate attached to it.

Police officers met up with the rental car owner, who validated identification of the vehicle in the store’s parking lot and stated that it belonged to him, however, he said, the license plate attached to the vehicle was a false plate.

The owner explained that the rental car was originally scheduled for return on July 19, 2024, by different people. It was extended for an additional day, revising the return date to July 20, 2024.

At approximately 12:20 p.m, the vehicle in question was impounded at the FPS.

The vehicle was impounded and an investigation led to the arrest of Viiga Phillip Taala, who was found sleeping inside the stolen vehicle.

Upon arrival at the FPS, verification of the RAV-4 through its vehicle identification number (VIN) was confirmed.

Following the verification, an inventory search was carried out by the officers in the presence of Viiga Taala.

The suspect was Mirandized and he declined to waive his rights, instead asking for legal representation and expressing his unwillingness to furnish a written or verbal statement.

But, of his own violation, he disclosed his involvement in the alteration of the license plate. He added that after acquiring the vehicle from an associate in Fagaalu, he made the change.

Taala was arrested and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next session at the District Court.

The affidavit states that a report was made by the owner of the rental car on July 29, 2024, indicating that the rental car had not been returned since July 20, 2024. The owner stated that the vehicle had not been seen for 9 days and he suspected the license plate of the vehicle had been changed.

On the same day, an APB was issued for the rental car to be impounded and transported to the nearest police station, if observed on the road.