Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 13, 2026, a minor called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and reported that a man was allegedly causing a disturbance and threatening his (suspect’s) mother while armed with a metal pipe.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of not more than $500, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of not to exceed $500, or both.

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

(Samoa News has withheld the names of the individuals involved to protect the identity of the minor involved.)

According to court documents, the incident occurred at approximately 4:16 p.m., when a caller contacted DPS to report hearing loud shouting, repeated profanities, and the sound of objects being broken inside a nearby residence.

Responding officers arrived at the scene within minutes and made contact with the reporting witness, who directed them to the residence where the disturbance was taking place. The witness told officers that only the defendant and his mother lived in the home and that she became concerned for the mother's safety after hearing the commotion continue for several minutes.

While one officer remained behind to interview the reporting witness, two officers approached the residence to make contact with the defendant.

Court documents state that officers repeatedly knocked on the front door and loudly identified themselves as police officers, but no one answered.

After several unsuccessful attempts to make contact, officers heard movement coming from the rear of the residence. One of the officers proceeded to the back of the home and observed the defendant standing outside while holding a metal pipe.

Police instructed the defendant to approach and speak with them. Instead of complying, the defendant allegedly fled the area on foot before officers could detain him. Officers searched the immediate area but were unable to locate him.

As officers prepared to clear the scene, the reporting witness alerted them that the defendant had returned to the neighborhood. Officers exited their patrol vehicle and observed the defendant once again outside the residence, yelling profanities at his mother while several nearby residents watched the incident unfold.

The affidavit further states that the defendant appeared highly agitated and aggressive. Officers observed him carrying the metal pipe as he walked toward the front of the residence in the direction of his mother. Fearing the situation could escalate into violence, officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the pipe.

The defendant allegedly ignored the commands and continued shouting profanities at both his mother and the responding officers, while refusing to surrender the metal pipe.

Officers then attempted to take the defendant into custody but he actively resisted arrest by repeatedly pushing officers away and refusing to place his hands behind his back. During the struggle, the defendant allegedly kept his arms pinned beneath his body and continued resisting officers' efforts to handcuff him.

The physical struggle lasted approximately one to three minutes before officers were finally able to gain control of the defendant, place him in handcuffs, and secure him inside the patrol vehicle without further incident.

After the defendant was taken into custody, officers interviewed his mother (victim) regarding the events leading up to the disturbance.

The victim reportedly told police that her son had been sleeping earlier in the day and that after he woke up, she informed him there was food waiting for him in the kitchen.

However, she explained that the defendant unexpectedly became angry, began yelling profanities, and started causing a disturbance inside the residence without any apparent reason.

Although she described the defendant's behavior as aggressive, the mother declined to pursue criminal charges against her son. She also informed officers that similar incidents had occurred in the past but that she had previously chosen not to seek prosecution.

Despite the victim's decision not to press charges, officers proceeded with the arrest based on the defendant's alleged conduct during the incident, including refusing lawful commands, possessing a metal pipe while acting aggressively, and resisting arrest.

Following his arrest, the defendant was booked at the FPS before being transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he remained pending further court proceedings.

The defendant is identified as a 33-year-old U.S national.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on July 14, 2026.

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[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.]