MAN ARRESTED FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE

A man who threatened his wife and damaged property in their home made his initial appearance in the District Court this week, after spending the weekend in jail. The defendant is charged with public peace disturbance and property damage, which are both class A misdemeanors carrying jail terms of up to one year, fines of up to $1,000 or both.

According to the government’s case, a woman contacted the police for assistance regarding her husband, who she said was acting disorderly and making unreasonable noise at their house, allegedly while damaging their property.

Police responded to the matter, and met up with the victim at her uncle’s residence. The woman told police that ever since she returned from off island, the defendant would get mad and question her about where she was going, who she was talking to on the phone and in almost every argument, the defendant would threaten her and break their belongings in the house.

On the night in question, the woman said she went to her uncle’s house with their children and stayed there until things cooled down after arguing with the defendant. It’s  alleged the defendant went to the uncle’s house, stood outside with a rock and yelled at the victim that he had been waiting at the house for her and the kids, but they never showed up.

According to the government’s case, the defendant threatened to hurt the victim if she called the police. The defendant broke the cordless phone, destroyed the air conditioner vents, cracked two louvers and also threw clothes around the house.

Police apprehended the suspect and took him into police custody. Court documents say that the victim told police that she does not want him to return to the house nor contact her and the children or any of her family members. A restraining order has been requested by victim against the defendant. It’s alleged that there was no alcohol involved in this matter.

TASILA TASILA AND IAKOPO IAKOPO CHARGED WITH PPD

The driver of an aiga bus backed up into a vehicle that was parked in front of a store in Tafuna, leaving a dent on the new Toyota truck. The incident caused an altercation between the two — driver of the bus and the driver of the truck — resulting in both men being arrested and taken into police custody.

Both defendants, Tasila Tasila and Iakopo Iakopo, appeared before District Court Judge Pro Temp Fiti Sunia, where they pled not guilty to charges of public peace disturbance.

According to the government’s case, Traffic Officer Pepe Mann told Patrol Officers that he was waved down by Tasila, the driver of the Toytoa truck, regarding the accident. He pulled over to assist when he then observed Tasila walking over to Iakopo. He saw both individuals making fists, and then Tasila punched Iakopo and they started fighting. Both were then arrested and taken in.