Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 18, 2025, a mother in distress called the Leone Police Substation requesting help regarding her son.

The suspect later fled the scene but was apprehended, arrested, and later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both;

Count 2: Property Damage in the Third Degree, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 3: Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

Court records revealed that on Oct 18th, at approximately 2:44 p.m., LPS received a call from a woman (later identified as the suspect’s mother/ victim #1) regarding an alleged disturbance caused by her son (later identified as the suspect).

Police officers responded to the call and, upon arrival at the scene, they met a woman (later identified as victim #1) who directed the officers towards the scene. The officers made contact with family members standing outside the patio of the house (scene), who appeared to be in distress and anxiously awaiting assistance.

Officers interviewed an older woman (later identified as the suspect’s grandmother/ victim #2), who stated that she was sitting on her bed and heard an ongoing verbal argument between the suspect and victim #1.

She claims that the suspect was walking out, and she tried to appease him, but he yelled profanities at her and accused her of being a liar. In a fit of rage, the suspect damaged their home by slamming the doors and punching holes in the kitchen walls. The suspect also threw plates —breaking them — in the house, and continued to yell profanities at everyone at home.

The officers photographed the scene and conducted an interview with victim #1. According to victim #1, she was relaxing when the suspect came barreling into her room. The suspect yelled at her, seemingly mad and frustrated about his son, her grandson. Moreover, she claimed that she heard the suspect threaten that he “wanted to beat up someone”.

She said she stormed out of the house, feeling overwhelmed and threatened, and contacted the authorities for help.

A witness was also interviewed, explained that she was sitting outside the house when she heard yelling from inside, but was uncertain about the words being said. As she walked inside to check what was happening, she heard the suspect loudly saying that “he wanted to beat up someone”. The suspect then walked out of the room, livid, and yelled profanities at victim #2 as she was trying to call out to him. She alleged that she saw the suspect punching the kitchen walls and throwing things around the house, including ceramic plates.

After interviewing the victims and witnesses, the officers approached the suspect’s room. The officers called out to him by name, but there was no response. The suspect was later found in the vicinity of the scene, where he attempted to flee but was apprehended.

During apprehension, the suspect exerted mild resistance before being placed in the police unit and transported to the station for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, the suspect was Mirandized, to which he understood and agreed to provide a statement.

The suspect claimed that he woke up in the afternoon, anticipating seeing his son, but victim #1 did not pick him up due to her errands. He stated that he was frustrated and angry, which led him to lash out at the victims and also damage their house.

The suspect was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as Martin Philips, a 26-year-old U.S. national.