Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers were arrested this week on the allegation that they assaulted two juvenile males who were suspected to be part of a group of young men who were fighting and throwing stones on the road.

After the alleged assault, police officers escorted the two young males to their homes without seeking medical assistance for injuries sustained by the two, who were both 15-years old. Moreover, it was also discovered by police that the two victims were not part of the disturbance that was reported and they only ran because they got scared.

The two, DPS Officer Sione Satini and Det. Vegas Pearson were arrested on Tuesday afternoon and transported straight to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF).

Samoa News understands that the DPS was supposed to serve warrants on the two suspects, however, after police were unable to do so, a request was sent to the court marshal to serve the warrants — which he did.

Satini is charged with 3rd-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child, both class A misdemeanors. Bail is set at $2,000.

Pearson is charged with 6 counts of the information including two counts of abuse of a child, a class D felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both, along with two counts of 3rd-degree assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, all class A misdemeanors.

Pearson’s bail is set at $20,000.

THE CASE

On Apr. 14, 2022, the mother of one of the victims, who is named in the affidavit as I.P called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to file a complaint against the officers that allegedly assaulted her son.

I.P (victim #1) is a 15-year old male.

I.P and his mother arrived at the TPS and they were interviewed by investigators at the office. EMS was also contacted for medical assistance and I.P was transported to the LBJ Tropical Medical Center for further medical assistance. A medical report later picked up by I.P’s mother revealed that I.P’s x-ray revealed that I.P had a nasal fracture.

Investigators also interviewed the second victim (R.F), who is also 15-years old, in the presence of his mother.

The two suspects, Satini and Pearson were also interviewed after being advised that they were not under arrest and could leave at any time.

To date the investigation included interviews conducted with the two young victims, the two suspects, along with other police officers who were present during the alleged assault, and also the attending physician at the LBJ.

THE INCIDENT

Around 11:29p.m on Apr. 13, 2022, the TPS received a call from a person in Nu’uuli reporting a disturbance involving several males across from Family Mart. The caller also told police that these individuals were throwing rocks. Several police officers responded to the call.

Officers arrived and tried to locate the individuals involved and after approaching one of the houses behind Paea’s store in Nu’uuli, officers observed a crowd of people roaming around the area. As officers made their way to approach these people, they immediately disappeared.

Officers proceeded back to the front of the Paea’s store, right across from Family Mart, and met with another police unit, operated by defendant Pearson, along with co-defendant Satine and two other police officers. Officers decided to split up to try and locate the individuals.

According to the case, one officer walked towards the bushes and observed males who immediately took off running. Officers then pursued these individuals on foot. During the foot pursuit, a male individual caught one of the victims, R.F, and handed him over to a police officer. The police officer then detained R.F while other officers continued to pursue the other individuals running.

As the pursuit continued, it’s alleged that defendant Pearson ran up to R.F, who was with another police officer, and punched R.F in the face two times before then running off to chase the other individuals that were running.

Shortly, officers were able to catch the other victim, I.P.

It’s alleged that one police officer grabbed I.P by the collar of his shirt and held on to him; while immediately after, defendant Satini arrived and took over. The officer that had been holding I.P turned away and continued to pursue the other individuals running.

Defendant Satini told I.P to lay flat on the ground. He then glanced over to where the other officers were running.

Co-defendant Pearson then passed I.P and allegedly kicked him in the face while he was on the ground. It was after Pearson passed by I.P that it was discovered that I.P’s nose was bleeding.

Another officer returned to take I.P to the police unit. I.P was still on the ground, face down at that time, and when the officer turned I.P over, I.P’s face was bleeding.

A police sergeant arrived at the scene where I.P and the two officers were, and instructed the co-defendant, Satini to handcuff I.P and escort him to the police unit. Officers then placed both victims (I.P and R.F) in a police unit.

While R.F was already handcuffed and secured in the police unit, defendant Satini allegedly slapped the back of R.F’s head causing his head to fly forward. Satini then walked off and ran across the street to assist the other officers who were still at the time in a foot pursuit to locate the rest of the individuals.

A police sergeant then called out to the officers to cut off the foot pursuit. While interviewing both victims at the scene, it was later discovered that they were not part of the disturbance that was reported and they only ran because they got scared.

The police sergeant, along with three other police officers proceeded to escort R.F and I.P to their homes and then returned to the station.

Lt. S. Lam Yuen is the lead investigator in this case.