Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 18, 2024, a female individual called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report an alleged disturbance from their neighbors. The suspect allegedly stoned his sister’s house and assaulted her in the presence of her 6-month-old baby.

The suspect was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both;

Count 3: Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both; and,

Count 4: Property Damage in the Third Degree (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 18th, at about 1:17 p.m., a female individual (reporter) contacted the TPS in need of assistance. The reporter claimed that Semu Aiavā (suspect) was allegedly disturbing the peace by yelling profanities at his sister (suspect’s sister/ victim).

The reporter also stated that the suspect endangered the victim’s 6-month-old baby by throwing rocks at the house, breaking the windows and throwing down tea cups while the victim and her child were in the house.

In addition, the suspect also allegedly assaulted the victim by punching her several times.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they met with the reporter who introduced herself and briefly explained what had happened. She then pointed out where the suspect was inside his room.

The victim was observed standing outside the house with minor scratches on her arm. The officers met up with the victim and asked if she needed medical assistance but she refused.

The officers then interviewed the reporter at the scene. When one of the officers proceeded to apprehend the suspect, the suspect’s wife walked outside and told the officers that he wasn’t there. However, the victim’s husband arrived from work and went inside the suspect’s house and found the suspect hiding in his room and alerted the officers.

The officers then apprehended the suspect and placed him inside the police unit to be transported to the TPS for further investigation. The victim’s husband also agreed to come to the station to make a statement.

At about 1:28 p.m., the reporter was interviewed at the scene and she explained that she heard the suspect yelling out profanities in Samoan at his sister. The suspect then went outside the house and threw rocks at the house breaking the windows while his sister and her baby were in the house. The reporter also mentioned that she heard the child crying inside the house so she called the police for assistance.

The victim was also interviewed and she stated that “they were going about their business until her brother (suspect) came over and yelled profanities towards her”. She said that the suspect started punching her while she tried to cover her face with her arms.

The suspect then went outside and threw rocks at the house. She held her 6 month-old baby close and she called her husband to stop what he was doing and come back home. The victim further informed the officers that this isn’t the first time the suspect has done this to her.

The suspect and the victim’s husband were both transported to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, the suspect was Mirandized to which he understood but refused to make a statement or to answer any questions.

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

The victim’s husband was interviewed and he gave a written statement. He stated that he got an unexpected call from his wife who told him about what happened. He explained that his wife told him that the suspect broke the windows as she cried over the phone holding their daughter. He explained that his wife’s words were not clear so she told him to stop what he was doing and come back home. He came back home at the exact time the officers arrived at the scene.

The victim’s husband also corroborated his wife’s statement that this is not the first time that the suspect has done this. He said that “this happens a lot to his wife and that the suspect always beats up the victim and yells profanities at her.”