Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 30, 2024, a concerned mother contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report her son who allegedly assaulted her grandson.

The suspect was apprehended and later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both;

Count 2: 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 3: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 4: Property Damage in the Third Degree (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 who were also minors.)

According to the affidavit, on July 30th, at about 1:45 p.m, a concerned mother contacted the TPS to report her son who had allegedly assaulted her grandson and damaged their television by cutting the wire.

Upon arrival at the scene, the officers were waved down by a male individual (suspect’s uncle) and he directed the officers to their house. As the officers approached the house, they met up with the mother of the suspect who told the officers to follow her.

When the officers got inside the house, she pointed the officers to the suspect’s room. As the officers entered the room they saw the suspect lying on his bed.

The suspect was then instructed by the officers to stand up and face the wall and he was then handcuffed and escorted to the police unit, while interviews were conducted at the scene.

An interview of the mother of the suspect was conducted first.

According to the mother, she was sitting in the living room when she heard her son swearing at her 12-year-old granddaughter and threatening to slap her. She explained that the suspect yelled at her granddaughter saying 'if I tell you t o do something, you do it!’. At the same time, the suspect was also calling the granddaughter names.

The mother further stated that she intervened and told the suspect to stop and that she’ll wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen. However, the suspect continued to yell out profanities and then slapped her 6-year-old grandson on the back of his head.

She said that the suspect continued to yell out profanities in the house and then used a knife to cut the HDMI wire to the television. The mother stated that this has been an ongoing issue with her son and that she is getting fed up with him.

The mother also said she doesn’t know the cost of the damaged wire when officers photographed it.

Officers interviewed the 6 year-old grandson next. He stated that his uncle slapped him once on the back of his head and said it hurt.

The 12-year-old granddaughter was also interviewed where she explained that her grandma told her uncle to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. He then told her to do it and she told the suspect no.

Out of anger, her uncle swore at her repeatedly and then tried to slap her but her grandma intervened and told him to stop. She explained that when her uncle was walking away, her 6-year-old little brother went to greet their uncle but he slapped him.

After conducting the interviews, the officers left the scene with the suspect so he could be processed at the TPS. Upon arrival at the TPS, the suspect was Mirandized and he agreed to make a statement and answer questions.

According to the suspect, he admitted to trying to slap his 12-year-old niece for not listening to him when he told her to do something. He also admitted to slapping his 6 year-old nephew on the back of his head since he was mad at his mother. In addition, the suspect admitted to yelling profanities repeatedly because he was mad at his mother for spoiling his niece and nephew, which he thinks is unacceptable.

The suspect was booked and later transported to be confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting at the District Court.

The suspect is identified as 23-year-old U.S National.