Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who allegedly threatened his wife with a hammer appeared in District Court last week on charges of disturbing the peace and criminal contempt.

Police apprehended Peneueta Key last Tuesday after a complaint was filed by his wife. According to the court affidavit, the defendant’s wife called the Leone Sub-Station on Monday wanting assistance, because her husband had threatened her and was swearing.

Key had already left their home by the time police officers arrived but on Tuesday, he was apprehended, charged, and taken into custody.

Key made his initial before District Court Judge Fiti Sunia last week, where he entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him. He was released on his own recognizance and he's scheduled to appear in court July 2nd for his first pretrial conference.