Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 8, 2024, a woman called the police and reported her husband, who had caused a disturbance at their home in Petesa.

The suspect was apprehended and arrested from his workplace and charged with the following charges:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1,000, or both;

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

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

Defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved due to the involvement of a minor in this case.)

According to the affidavit, a woman contacted the police station at around 9:30 am, and reported that she had been assaulted with a broomstick by her husband while holding their 11-month old son.

Upon arrival at the scene, police officers were approached by the female individual who reported her husband. According to the victim, “her husband was having a hard time looking for his clothes this morning for work, she then told him that from now on, she won’t be doing his laundry anymore.” That’s when he got agitated and started swearing at her. She told him to stop but it escalated to the point where he was very loud.

She then reached over to the bike that was inside the house in the kitchen area and it caused the defendant to become more angry and he tried to hit her with one of their son’s big toys. At the same time, the bike fell down, and the defendant grabbed the broom that was next to him, twisted off the head of the broom and used the stick to hit the victim on her back.

The victim stated “ she fell down and was in so much pain.” Furthermore, she alleged that when her husband hit her with the stick, she was holding on to their 11-month old son.

She pointed out “that this is not the first time that this had happened” saying he has physically abused her so many times. “This also happened last year where he was mad at her and then he held onto their son so tight and squeezed him.”

According to the affidavit the defendant was not seen at the scene because he had already left for work in Tafuna.

Upon arrival at the husband’s place of employment, police were told the defendant was out taking a delivery. It was when he returned that the officers approached him and explained what had happened to which he agreed. The defendant was then apprehended and transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the TPS , the defendant was Mirandized and he agreed to make a statement pertaining to the matter.

According to the defendant, “he was mad because he was getting late for work but couldn’t find any undies to wear but his wife told him that she won’t be doing his laundry anymore.

“That is when he started to get mad at her and rushed to get to work.

“He started swearing nonstop at her in the house.

“So when he tried to get on the bike to head out, she grabbed onto the bike and told him not to use the bike but walk to work.”

The defendant said he told her that he needed to get to work because he was running late, but “the bike fell down which pissed him off, then he grabbed the broom and hit her on the back.”

The defendant was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility until the next sitting of the District Court.