Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 4, 2024, a female individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) alleging that her husband assaulted her in front of their children.

The defendant fled the scene but was later charged with:

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

Count 3: Public Peace Disturbance (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 $500.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identities of the victims in this case)

According to the affidavit, on August 4th, at about 1:24 p.m, a female individual called the TPS and reported she had been assaulted by her husband at their home.

Police officers were dispatched to the scene and upon arrival at about 1:42 p.m, the officers met with the victim. The victim briefed the officers about the assault and later found out that the defendant had fled from the scene.

Officers attempted to find him in the neighborhood, but were unsuccessful. The officers then transported the victim and her children to the TPS for further investigation.

The victim suffered a minor swollen left eye and a minor cut on her lower lip, but she refused to be treated by the EMS.

According to the victim, they live in an apartment in the village of Mesepa. In the afternoon at around 1:00 p.m, she and the defendant were doing their chores outside their room. Suddenly, their neighbor needed help to open the door to her room but she couldn’t help because her hands were full of laundry. The suspect asked her if she could help out the lady but she told him that she can open her own door.

The victim explained that they got into a verbal altercation inside their bedroom where the suspect started to get violent and yelling profanities.

The suspect then grabbed his belongings and went outside and continued to yell out profanities in Samoan towards her. She told the suspect that she’ll call the police on him.

The victim stated that the suspect returned to their room and blindsided her by punching her in the face in front of their 9 and 8-year-old children. And, he pulled the phone away from her so she wouldn't be able to call the police.

The victim tried to go outside of the room to look for help but the suspect stood at their bedroom door and blocked the door for like 10 minutes. He told her that she will not call the police for help or get any help from anyone else.

The neighbors heard noises and came and the suspect then left the house and the victim used the neighbor’s phone to call the authorities for help.

The affidavit states that according to the 9 year-old, he saw his father punch his mother in the face and block the door for a long time when his mother tried to get out to look for help.

The 8-year-old was also interviewed where she stated that she heard her parents having an altercation and her father yelled out profanities. She also explained that she saw her father punch her mother in the face and block the door for a long time when her mother tried to get out to look for help. She added that she then ran to her uncle next door for help.

The defendant is identified as a 31-year-old citizen of Samoa.

(The affidavit does not state if the defendant was found and arrested.)