Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An intoxicated man who was picked up by cops last Wednesday night and charged with public peace disturbance and resisting arrest has been released on his own recognizance, under standard conditions.

Tomasi Ugapo made his initial appearance in District Court this week. His next court appearance is Aug. 27th.

According to the government's case, the alleged disturbance occurred in Tafuna. When police arrived, Ugapo allegedly had fled but was being chased along the roadside by two men. Cops pulled up alongside Ugapo who "continued to walk away."

Court documents state that Ugapo raised his hands up and continuously said that what he did was in self-defense. Cops noted that Ugapoi had sustained a laceration on his left eyebrow.

A witness told police that Ugapo was drinking with some friends near the scene and when he walked into his uncle's home, he heard his girlfriend "laughing loudly" in the presence of others and this upset him.

Court documents say Ugapo then yelled profanities and shouted a Samoan war cry inside the house. Ugapo’s friend and cousin "attempted to calm" him down but Ugapo "became more aggressive," according to the criminal complaint.

He ran out of the house when he heard his cousin calling the police.

According to investigators, Ugapo resisted arrest when he was being handcuffed and he "attempted to flee but was blocked" by two officers.

Aleki was transported to the hospital via ambulance and treated in the LBJ Emergency Room before he was taken back into custody at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF).

BACKGROUND

In 2016, Ugapo was sentenced to 12 months probation after he was convicted by the District Court for trespass and 3rd degree assault. Ugapo’s conviction stems from an incident where he went to his neighbor’s home late at night and assaulted another man who had assaulted his 16-year-old nephew.

In May of 2018, Ugapo was arrested again and charged with 3rd degree assault. The charge against Ugapo stemmed from an incident where he was accused of punching a taxi driver multiple times in front of an Asian store in Nuuuli.

Two months after Ugapo was charged, the government filed a motion in court to dismiss the case against him for lack of prosecution. The motion was granted by the court.