Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 3, 2024, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a female individual (later identified as the victim) reporting that a male individual had assaulted her and then threatened her and her family with a gun.

The defendant was apprehended and later charged with the following:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (As a C Misd.), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 3: Assault in Third Degree (As a C. Misd.) (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $500.00.

According to the affidavit, on August 3rd, at about 7:20 p.m, a female individual contacted the TPS regarding a male individual who came to their house and allegedly assaulted her with teuila (flower) branches and pointed a gun at her.

Police officers went to the victim’s residence and met up with her and the witnesses where they briefed the officers regarding the incident.

According to the victim, she and her kids were cleaning in the back of their house, when surprisingly, Manulele Salaivao (identified as the suspect) approached her and yelled at her.

The suspect told her not to be clever with him and then swore at her saying she doesn’t have land. The victim said at the same time, the suspect struck her with a teulia branch that hit her on her back. And, the suspect also pulled a gun out of his bag and pointed it straight at her. Her  children and husband were present.

After the interview, the victim directed the officers to where the suspect resides.

Police officers proceeded to the suspect’s residence to locate him and upon arrival made initial contact with Salaivao and explained to him about their presence.

One of the officers asked Salaivao where the gun was and he complied handing the gun over to authorities. The gun was later identified as a BB gun 88 CAL (4.5 mm)- black color.

The suspect was cuffed and transported to the TPS for further investigation regarding the incident.

Police officers then proceeded back to the victim’s residence to interview the witnesses who were present during the incident.

The officers met up with the victim’s husband, witness #1, who explained that he was at the plantation where he discovered his crops had been damaged when he was surprised seeing Salaivao point a gun at his wife. The suspect also made threatening remarks at them stating that he’ll shoot them. The witness confirmed he saw a black handgun.

The officers also interviewed both of the victim’s children (witness #2 and #3). According to the 15 year-old minor, he verbally stated that Salaivao came and cut banana stalks from his father’s banana trees. Salaivao further grabbed a stack of teuila branches and struck his mom with them. He stated that the suspect pulled out a black gun and pointed it at his mother and threatened to shoot them.

According to the other witness, a 17 year-old minor, he said that Salaivao came to their plantation and cut banana stalks from his father’s banana trees by using a machete. After which he came to his mother and struck her with a stack of teuila branches. He also explained that the suspect pointed a black handgun at his mom and yelled out profanities at them, saying “…not to be smart with him, you don’t have any lands”.

After conducting the field interviews, the police officers went back to the station for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, the officers Mirandized the suspect where he agreed to provide a statement pertaining to his involvement in the matter.

According to Salaivao, he did not point a gun at the victim and her family. He also stated that he did not strike the victim with teuila branches.

The defendant in this case is identified as a 62-year-old citizen of Samoa.