Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 27, 2026, a man identified in court documents as Dennis Elisara was taken into custody after police were called to investigate reports of yelling, swearing, and disruptive behavior late at night in Futiga.

The defendant was later charged with Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not to exceed $500, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, filed in District Court on Jan. 28, a resident living near the funeral home business in Futiga contacted the Leone Police Substation (LPS) at around 11:08 p.m. to report that Mr. Elisara was standing on the roadway shouting profanities and making loud disturbances while nearby families were sleeping.

The caller told officers this was not the first time such behavior had occurred and that the situation was an ongoing problem.

When officers arrived in the area, they observed Elisara standing in front of the funeral home and as they approached, he allegedly ran from the scene. One of the responding officers was able to catch him shortly afterward. He was transported to the LPS for questioning.

At the station, police Mirandized the suspect, which he confirmed he understood before agreeing to provide a verbal statement.

According to the affidavit, Elisara told officers he had been walking home while practicing his rap music when someone called out his name and threatened to hit him with a baseball bat. He said he could not see who made the threat due to the darkness and crossed the road near the funeral home, calling for the unidentified person to come forward.

Police noted in their report that Elisara did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident. Officers also stated that there was no indication he had attempted to enter the reporting party’s property.

Elisara was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility pending court proceedings.

The defendant is identified as a 41-year-old U.S national.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court.]