Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 8, 2025, a concerned citizen called the Leone Police Substation (LPS) regarding a domestic dispute. The reporter claimed that the suspect assaulted his wife, and they were alerted because of their loud argument.

The suspect fled the scene but was later charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not to exceed $500, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Second Degree (DV), a D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Sept 8th, at around 4:13 p.m., an individual (the reporter) contacted the LPS and reported a couple arguing and that the husband (the suspect) had assaulted his wife at an abandoned house near a church in Taputimu.

Police officers responded to the call and, upon arrival, they saw an individual’s silhouette in an abandoned house near the scene. When the officers approached the woman, she introduced herself and informed the officers that the couple arguing was in a different abandoned house further up the road.

Authorities proceeded to the location, where they observed two people (later identified as the witnesses) sitting at the bus stop. The witnesses pointed towards the opposite direction from where they were seated and told the officers that the couple was inside the abandoned house across from the bus stop.

The officers proceeded to the abandoned house in search of the couple, and while approaching the house, they heard a female voice ranting at someone. The area where the abandoned house was located was dark, and half of the building was in a forest-like area. The authorities called out to the woman (later identified as the victim) in an effort to locate the victim.

The officers continued further down the building and saw the victim lying down, crying. The officers approached her, and she identified herself. The woman was asked if she was okay, and she stated that she was, and she told the officers that the suspect had already left the scene.

The victim then pointed out the object with which the suspect had used to hit her — a 2X6 — and the officers placed it inside their police unit.

The victim was asked if she needed medical assistance, which she declined. The victim was transported to the LPS for further investigation.

The authorities also approached the witnesses at the bus stop, where they introduced themselves. The witnesses informed the officers that they saw the couple arguing, and they went down to the abandoned house.

Upon arrival at the station, the victim was interviewed, where she explained that she was going for a morning run and she took a shortcut from their house to the road. She stated that she didn’t know that the suspect was spying on her at the shortcut near the abandoned house. She noted that the suspect came out of nowhere, pulled her hair, and struck her with a piece of lumber.

The victim also claimed that the suspect alleged that she was cheating on him. She informed the officers that they had been separated for three to four months.

There were no visible injuries or bruises on the victim’s legs and body.

The defendant is identified as a 37-year-old citizen of Samoa.