Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 6, 2026, the Fagatogo Police Central Station (FPS) contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported an alleged domestic violence dispute in Vailoa that involved multiple assaults and a threat involving a firearm. 

The incident led to an arrest of a suspect later charged with:

Count 1 & 4: 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;
Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both;
Count 3 & 5: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not more than $1,000, or both; and,
Count 6: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not more than $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of the individuals involved to protect the identity of the victim and the minors.)

According to the court affidavit, on Sept. 6th, at approximately 10:29 a.m., when FPS contacted the TPS regarding a domestic violence call received from Vailoa, authorities contacted the telephone number provided by FPS, and the male suspect answered.

While on the phone, officers immediately heard the suspect and the female victim arguing. The victim could also be heard crying.

The suspect reportedly asked police for assistance in removing the victim from his home. However, the victim was heard telling the suspect that she wanted to know why he had called police when he had just finished beating her.

During the phone call, both the victim and suspect reportedly mentioned a gun. The information was immediately relayed to responding officers, who were instructed to approach the residence with caution.

At approximately 10:40 a.m., two police units responded to the residence in Vailoa. Officers stated that they were familiar with the location because the couple had previously made calls to the Leone Police Substation (LPS).

The phone call remained active as officers traveled to the residence, allowing them to hear the parties' conversation.

When officers arrived, they approached the family home cautiously because of the reported firearm. As officers approached the front door, the suspect reportedly told them to come inside.

The suspect told officers that the victim had left in a white vehicle with their children and was heading to her family home in Futiga. Officers found the suspect sitting on a couch in the living room, while his 8-year-old son was on another couch.

The suspect uses crutches to walk and instructed his son to retrieve them. Officers informed the suspect that he would be taken to the TPS for further investigation. He was subsequently placed inside a police vehicle along with his son.

Officers then traveled to Futiga to locate the victim.

Upon arrival at the victim's family home, officers observed her removing containers of clothing from the white vehicle and taking them into the residence.

When asked what had happened, the victim reportedly said that the couple had gotten into their usual argument and that she wanted to get away from the suspect with her children.

The victim agreed to accompany officers to the TPS for further investigation. She also brought her 8-year-old son, who was identified as a witness to the incident.

The victim's mother also informed the police that this was not the first alleged assault involving the couple. She said the victim had previously returned home with her children in May after allegedly being beaten by the suspect. According to the mother, she advised her daughter not to return to the suspect, but the victim went back approximately two days later.

At the TPS, the victim provided police with a detailed account of the September 6th incident. 

According to the victim, the suspect became angry after she instructed one of the children to remain inside the house and wait for the other children to wake up so she could prepare breakfast.

The victim said the suspect became upset because she was telling the children what to do and told her to leave the home.

She said the suspect then contacted police to have her removed from the residence.

After the suspect ended the call with police, however, he allegedly turned toward her and began beating her while she was holding their 1-year-old child.

The victim alleged that the suspect pulled her hair and punched her in the face and the back of her head. She said she eventually put the baby down and attempted to defend herself.

The victim told police that the suspect's phone then rang, which was the call from the police dispatcher. Officers said this was when they heard the victim crying in the background while the suspect was on the phone.

The victim also reported another alleged assault that occurred the previous day, Sept. 5th. The victim explained that at around 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., the family had returned home after running errands and collecting mail from the post office.

The suspect was reportedly spraying weed-killing chemicals around the grassy area outside the residence. He then sat near the front door while the children were nearby. The victim said she asked him to move away with his clothing because it had been contaminated by the weed-killing chemicals. She said the suspect misunderstood her request and became upset.

The victim alleged that the suspect approached her from behind while she was taking groceries from the vehicle, pulled her hair and repeatedly punched her in the back of her head and face.

She further alleged that the suspect threatened to shoot her with a gun, causing her to become frightened and run toward bushes near the home.The victim's 8-year-old son was also interviewed by police in the presence and with the consent of his mother.

The child told police that on Sept. 6th, he was in the living room when he heard the victim and suspect arguing. He said the suspect was yelling at the victim before getting up and punching her in the face while she was holding the baby.

The child further stated that after the victim put the baby on the floor, the baby fell forward and struck his forehead on the ground.

Regarding the alleged incident on Sept. 5, the child told police that he saw the suspect pull the victim's hair and punch her multiple times outside the home near the vehicle.

The child also told officers that the suspect had a gun and threatened to shoot the victim. When asked to describe the firearm, the child described it as having a long barrel and said it had two bullets.

Police showed the child several photographs of firearms, and he identified a shotgun.

The child also told police that he knew the suspect had a gun because the suspect would instruct another child in the household to retrieve it whenever he went outside to look for bats. He also stated that the suspect sometimes placed the firearm underneath the couch.

The child said he saw the suspect come outside with the firearm on Sept. 5th, which was when he and the victim ran towards the bushes.

After gathering the statements, officers returned to speak with the suspect. The suspect was Mirandized and indicated that he understood them. He declined to provide a statement to police.

The suspect was subsequently booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility for 48 hours at approximately 1:20 p.m.

The suspect's 8-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter were placed in the care of a relative living in the same area. Police noted that the 14-year-old daughter was not involved in the case.

The defendant is identified as a 63-year-old U.S national.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on Sept. 08, 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.]