Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for assistance after his house was burglarized by two men was arrested on the allegation that he assaulted the two men allegedly burglarizing his house and stealing his cell phone and stimulus check.

On May 27th, 2020 around 8a.m, a male individual who identified himself to police as Edmund Amataga, the defendant in this case called TPS and requested police assistance immediately at his house.

At the same time, there was another call from another person asking for police assistance at his house and also stated that a gun was involved.

Several police officers responded to the call. As police officers approached the area from where the call came, a male individual waved down the police unit. The male identified himself to officers as Amataga.

As officers were speaking to Amataga, a female individual came forward and introduced herself to officers and said that Amataga came and assaulted her son while they were at the house. The woman further stated that Amataga came to their house and asked for her son by name. She said Amataga entered her house without permission and allegedly assaulted her son by punching him in the face about 4 times causing swelling and bruises on her son’s facial area.

Amataga was interviewed at the scene where he stated to officers that his house was burglarized in the morning and he was missing two cell phones and his stimulus check. He further stated that he found out that a person named P.M told him that the victim (the boy he allegedly assaulted) was the one who burglarized his house.

Officers picked up the person by the name P.M from his house and brought him into the TPS for questioning regarding this matter. Officers observed that P.M had bruises on his facial area and his left eye was swollen.

P.M told officers that Amataga invited him to his (Amataga) house to hang out. Once he got inside Amataga’s house, Amataga started throwing punches at his facial area about 8 times while he was still sitting on the chair inside the living room. He told Amataga that it was Tasi (victim) who burglarized his home.

Amataga then dragged him inside his (Amataga) vehicle and they drove to Tasi’s home. Once they arrived at the Tasi’s house, Amataga walked inside uninvited and assaulted Tasi by punching him in the face multiple times.

Investigation into the burglary at Amataga’s house revealed that P.M and Tasi were involved.

Amataga made his initial appearance in court last week.

He is charged with one count of burglary in the second degree, a felony, along with two counts of 3rd degree assault and private peace disturbance, both misdemeanors.

(According to findlaw.com, burglary is typically defined as the unlawful entry into almost any structure (not just a home or business) with the intent to commit any crime inside (not just theft/ larceny). No physical breaking and entering is required; the offender may simply trespass through an open door.)

Bail is set at $5,000.

During his initial appearance, Amataga waived his rights to a preliminary examination and his case is now before the High Court where he entered a not guilty plea to all the charges against him this past week.

Pretrial conference is set at July 27th.