Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 13, 2026, a woman called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and reported that her stepson was allegedly causing a disturbance and threatened her and his (suspect’s) wife.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant’s bail was set at $500.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of the individuals involved to protect the identity of the minor involved.)

According to the court affidavit, the incident occurred in the morning when police received a call from the defendant's stepmother requesting immediate assistance. She reported that the defendant had threatened both her and his wife, used profane language, and shattered a window of the family home by throwing a rock.

Responding officers were dispatched to the residence and, while traveling up the hill toward the home, observed an angry man walking nearby. When officers asked if he knew where the reported residence was located, he reportedly replied that he was the person responsible for the disturbance.

Officers then instructed him to accompany them back to the residence.

Upon arriving at the home, officers found two visibly distressed women outside the residence. To ensure everyone's safety and obtain independent accounts of the incident, officers separated the individuals and conducted interviews individually.

According to the defendant's wife, tensions within the household had begun the previous day after the family returned home from church. She told officers that the defendant became upset because he believed the pastor's sermon was directed at him.

His stepmother attempted to speak with him about the matter, but the conversation only intensified his anger.

The following morning, after the couple returned home from doing laundry, another argument erupted between the defendant and his stepmother. The wife told police that the defendant then confronted her inside the kitchen while their three young children — a 12-year-old girl and two boys, ages 13 and 8 — were nearby.

Fearing for both her own safety and that of the children, the wife attempted to calm the situation. However, the defendant allegedly became more aggressive, shouting profanities and threatening to choke her. The wife told officers she took the threat seriously because the defendant had allegedly been physically abusive toward family members on previous occasions.

The defendant's stepmother reportedly overheard the threats and immediately called 911 for assistance. While the emergency call was being made, the defendant allegedly picked up a rock and threw it through a window of the residence, shattering the glass before walking away from the property.

During a separate interview, the defendant's stepmother confirmed much of the wife's account. She told officers she had attended church the previous Sunday and believed the sermon addressed her stepson's behavior, and feeling ashamed, felt the need to talk to him about his spiritual life. At home, she tried to discuss the matter with him, but he became angry and walked away from her.

She further stated that she then saw the suspect being aggressive towards his wife and started threatening his wife verbally in front of the children.

She reported that the defendant also kept yelling profanities at her, which led to her ordering him to get out the house because it’s her residence, and he was getting out of hand.

After being told to leave, the defendant allegedly threw a rock through one of the home's windows, causing property damage — and that’s when she called the police.

The stepmother did not provide a written statement, according to the affidavit, due to eyesight problems.

Court documents also state that the stepmother urged officers to take the defendant into custody, explaining that she had had enough of the suspect fighting and being aggressive “in her home everyday”.

At approximately 9:52 a.m., officers detained the defendant without further incident and transported him to the FPS for processing.

Once at the station, the defendant was Mirandized and acknowledged that he understood his rights and voluntarily agreed to waive his rights to make a statement.

Following the booking process, the defendant was transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he was confined pending further court proceedings.

The defendant is identified as a 51-year-old citizen of Samoa.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on July 14, 2026.

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision.]