Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 24-year-old accused of being armed with a pocket knife after he allegedly assaulted his brother-in-law was arrested last week.

William Tafu made his initial appearance in District Court last Thursday. He was represented by Assistant Public Defender Anna Wells while prosecuting the case was Assistant Attorney General Jason Mitchell.

Judge Fiti Sunia established bond for Tafu at $500. If he is able to post it, the court has ordered him not to make any direct of indirect with the victim or the government witnesses; he is not to leave or attempt to leave the territory, and he is to remain law abiding. He is also to surrender all of his travel documents to the government attorney.

According to the government’s case, a woman called for police assistance regarding a fight at her Aua residence last week.

As two police units tried to enter the gate to the woman's house, cops observed a male running behind the house. The woman told police that the person who came at her husband with a pocket knife was the one running to the back of the house.

A few minutes later, officers were able to apprehend Tafu who was heavily intoxicated and was having a hard time running or walking. According to the woman, Tafu is her cousin who lives in Tafuna, but he was visiting for her daughter’s birthday party.

It was during the party that Tafu yelled profanities at her husband. As the husband tried to calm Tafu down, he allegedly punched him in the face twice. He then pulled out a pocket knife, which was inside his pants’ pocket and pointed it at the woman’s husband. That was when the woman called police for assistance.