Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 31, 2024, a mother reported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) that her son had allegedly been assaulted by an unknown male. However, the investigation revealed that her son was the suspect.

Tofia Paopao was arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $500.

According to the affidavit, on July 31st, at about 1:57 p.m, a mother contacted the TPS to report that her son had been assaulted by an unknown individual near their home.

Police officers were dispatched and upon arrival saw the son, Tofia Paopao, fleeing from his house. Officers interviewed the mother at her home about the incident.

According to the mother, she and her son had an argument at the house and he was yelling out profanities, and yelled at her to open the car’s [sic] door.

She explained that she heard her neighbor (later identified as the victim) call out to her to call the cops, which made her son change direction and walk towards the neighbor.

The mother stated that she heard her son cursing and saw him fighting with the victim. At that time, she saw a man with a metal shovel hitting both the victim and her son. She said that she told the man that the cops were on their way and he drove off in his car.

The mother also claimed that both the victim and her son were injured and revealed that the victim was still at his house, treating his wounds.

The officers requested the mother to contact the TPS if she finds her son’s whereabouts.

After interviewing the mother, the officers walked to the victim’s house and upon arrival met up with his sister (witness). The witness informed the officers that her brother was badly injured. As the officers entered the house, they observed the victim sitting on a chair with a puncture wound on his left forehead.

One of the officers informed the victim that he will be taken into the TPS to be interviewed and treated by the EMS for his injuries.

The officers placed the victim into the police unit and transported him to TPS to be treated. The  EMS was called upon their arrival.

One of the officers was able to interview the victim and he stated that he and his cousin were doing renovations at his home when he heard the suspect swearing at his mother repeatedly.

He called out to the mother to call the cops since her son was out of control. After the son heard what he said, he walked towards him swearing. He told him that he had no right to talk shit about him. The victim stated that the suspect then approached him and punched him in his face, so they got into a fist fight.

The victim continued that when they were fighting, the suspect was able to get a grip on him since he was heavy and stronger than him. As a result, he called out to his cousin (witness) to come break up the fight.

He said that his cousin was able to break up the fight after he hit both he (the victim) and the suspect several times. The victim continued that when he got up, the suspect ran away and he went into his house as he was injured by the shovel his cousin hit him with [while trying to break up the fight].

The victim also stated that his sister witnessed the whole incident.

At about 2:50 p.m, the EMS arrived at TPS and treated the victim’s injuries and he refused any further medical treatment. The victim sustained a puncture wound on his left forehead and photographs were taken by the officers.

The victim was dropped off at his home and at that time the victim’s sister was interviewed.

According to the witness, she was at their house when she heard her neighbor (suspect) yelling profanities at his mother and demanding to open the car’s door. She then heard her brother call out to the mother to call the cops because he (the son) was out of control. The suspect then approached her brother and started cursing at him.

She said the suspect was telling her brother, “You have no right to talk shit about me!”

The suspect then punched her brother and they got into a fight. The witness also explained that her brother was struggling to get away from the suspect who was holding onto him, and she saw her cousin swinging a metal shovel hitting both the suspect and the victim. And, she also stated she saw the suspect’s mother throwing several rocks at her cousin, missing him.

The witness said the suspect ran away after her cousin broke up the fight and she saw her brother with an injured forehead, but saw her cousin get into his car and drive away.

The officers asked the witness if she knew where the cousin lives and she directed them to his house.

After the follow up investigation, the officers proceeded to the cousin’s (witness) house and met up with him.

According to the cousin, he explained that he was helping his cousin (victim) with his house renovations when he heard the suspect yelling at his mother and cursing repeatedly. He said he heard the victim call out to the mother to call the cops for help.

The cousin further stated that while he was doing work he saw the suspect approaching the victim and yelling profanities at him and telling the victim he had no right to talk about him. He said he saw the suspect punch the victim and they got into a fist fight.

He explained he watched them fight and the suspect got a hold of the victim, and the victim yelled out to him for help. And, that is when he started swinging the shovel that he was holding and did not know who he struck so he just kept on striking both of them to break up the fight.

The cousin further stated that he had no choice but to do that since the suspect was bigger and stronger than both of them. He also explained that when the suspect stood up and ran away, he (the cousin) got into his car and drove home.

When the officers questioned the cousin if he had the shovel allegedly used to hit the suspect and victim, he replied yes. He was instructed to hand the shovel over to the authorities as evidence.

As officers were leaving the cousin’s house, they received a call from TPS that the suspect’s mother called to report that her son was at the hospital being treated.

Later on, the officers received another call from their watch commander that the mother called again and stated that her son ran away from the hospital while waiting to be treated.

After the officers received the call, they contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and informed them about a patient who is a suspect in a case they were investigating is somewhere near the hospital intersection.

The FPS called the watch commander and reported that police officers had arrested Mr. Tofia Paopao, who was found sitting at the bus stop.

The responding officers were able to communicate with the FPS unit and met up to take Tofia into custody and transport him to the TPS to be processed.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the suspect was asked if he needed medical treatment but he refused. Photos were taken of the suspect’s injuries and the suspect was reported to reek of alcohol.

The suspect was Mirandized and refused to make a statement and answer questions.

Tofia was booked at the TPS and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined and await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The suspect is identified as a 27-year-old U.S citizen.