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Man jumps in front of a moving vehicle after arguing with his girlfriend

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Charged with third degree assault for causing injuries to himself
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 22-year-old man who deliberately jumped in front of a moving vehicle after arguing with his girlfriend was arrested over the weekend.

Isaia Lei Sam made his initial appearance in District Court yesterday morning. He’s charged with third degree assault — for allegedly causing injuries to himself — and public peace disturbance.

 Judge Fiti Sunia released Lei Sam on his own recognizance subject to certain conditions. He has to keep the peace at his residence, and be alcohol and drug free. He is to remain law abiding and not make any direct or indirect contact with the government’s witnesses.

The government claims that it was about 2 p.m this past Saturday when a concerned resident rushed to the Fagaitua Substation to report that a male had been struck by a vehicle near his residence. The injured man was transported to the LBJ Hospital via a private vehicle.

Cops were able to interview the injured man (who is also the defendant), at the LBJ Hospital, along with the driver of the vehicle involved in the alleged incident.

According to the driver, Lei Sam deliberately jumped in front of his vehicle while he was driving west bound. Prior to the alleged incident, the driver told police that it seemed as if Lei Sam was arguing with a girl near the road.

When the alleged incident occurred, the driver said he stopped his vehicle to render assistance but when he saw a group of men running towards the scene, he took off for fear that the men might hurt him.

Bystanders who were at the scene confirmed to police that Lei Sam and his girlfriend were arguing on the sidewalk before the incident occurred.

When questioned by police, Lei Sam’s girlfriend said Lei Sam did not want her hanging out with her family, while he is alone. The couple argued from the girl's home towards the sidewalk, according to the court affidavit.

The girl told police she tried to calm Lei Sam down but he kept yelling at her.

While they were standing on the sidewalk near the main road, the girl said Lei Sam asked her how she would feel if he got hit by a car and she replied by saying she wouldn't care.

The girl claims that when she looked away, she heard a bang and that's when she saw Lei Sam lying on the road, as if he was hit by a car. The girl confirmed to police that she and Lei Sam both consumed alcohol prior to the incident.

Lei Sam sustained minor abrasions on his arm, nothing serious enough to require hospitalization. However, Samoa News understands that an LBJ physician has ordered Lei Sam to see a psychiatrist to evaluate his state of mind.

According to court documents, when police were trying to approach Lei Sam and his parents in the ER, to request that they meet at the DPS Central Station, Lei Sam seemed angry about his girlfriend, and he refused to listen to his parents' advice regarding his situation.

He was later escorted by police and held at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF).