WOMAN ALLEGEDLY STRIKES HER COP BOYFRIEND WITH VEHICLE

A woman has been charged with third degree assault (domestic violence) and private peace disturbance last week on allegations that she struck her boyfriend with a truck in Malaeimi.  Yolene Panama appeared in court last week with her bail set at $1,000. The PPD count she’s facing is a class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 15 days in jail, a fine up to $300 but not less than $150, while the domestic violence assault charge is a class A misdemeanor which carries a jail term of up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both. Assistant Public Defender Matthew Trick represents Panama while prosecuting for the government is Assistant Attorney General Alema Leota.

According to the government’s case, the off duty police officer who works at the Tafuna Correctional Facility contacted the Tafuna Substation and he “sounded shaken and reported that his girlfriend had just hit him with their F-150 truck while he was doing yard work with his back facing where the car was coming from.”

Three police officers responded to the call where they met with the victim who verbally stated that he did not hear the car coming towards him because he had the blower on while doing yard work and he was “shocked” when he was hit by the car. The man requested medical attention and said he was experiencing back pain.

While waiting for the Emergency Medical Services, eyewitnesses told the police what they saw.  One woman said she did not see what happened, but heard the couple arguing and yelling profane language at each other. Another eyewitness told police that she saw the woman turning into where the victim was, and hitting him with the car.  She said the victim fell down and then the woman drove away from the victim.

It’s unclear if the government will be filing additional charges in this matter.  In the meantime, the victim is being held in lieu of bail of $1,000.

FAGA’ALU FAMILY ARRESTED AND CHARGED FOR ASSAULT & TRESPASSING

Maria and her husband Tasimilo Tui, Sara Falaniko and Nailuana Faiumu were arrested and charged last week with assault, public peace disturbance and trespassing, and each count is a class A misdemeanor that carries a jail term of up to one year in jail, a fine up to $1,000 or both. According to the government’s case on Monday last week, police were called to a disturbance in Ili’ili.

The woman who was assaulted told police that Maria and her husband Tasimilo came straight to her front door and opened it without knocking and calling out her name. The victim said it was Maria who opened the door, unlawfully entered her house and called out to the victim’s brother. (Samoa News notes the couple being charged are the parents of the woman married to the victim’s brother)

The victim told the couple to leave their house as they were being “disrespectful” and they should have not entered into her house. However the couple, Marie and Tasimilo refused to leave and repeatedly called out the victim’s brother, but she told her brother to remain in the house with his wife.

The victim then chased the couple out of the house however they continued to yell profanity, and that’s when the victim contacted the police for help. It’s alleged that is when Maria slapped the victim on her face and pulled her at the same time, telling her she has no business being involved in their family business.

(Maria was referring to her daughter, who is married to victim’s brother)

According to the government’s case, the victim stated that while she was fighting with Maria, Falaniko and Faiumu joined the fight and jumped her. She told police that she saw Tasimilo try to punch her on the face, but she blocked it using her arm and the punch landed on her arm. Court filings says that there was a juvenile that was also involved in this matter, and the juvenile struck the victim on her back several times using a tennis racket.

According to the court documents, after the incident the victim called the Fagatogo police station, who then contacted the Tafuna Substation indicating that there was a big fight going on somewhere in Ili’ili however they were unsure of the exact location as the phone calls were disconnected several times.

It’s alleged that when police finally located where the incident occurred, the suspects had already left for their home in Faga’alu. Police proceeded to Faga’alu where they arrested all four suspects from Faga’alu.

It’s unclear if the government has charged the juvenile in this matter. All four defendants made their initial appearance in District Court last week, where Assistant Public Defender Matthew Trick represented them while prosecuting for the government is Assistant Attorney General Alema Leota.