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Samoan man charged with assault and stealing from Filipino

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 26-year old man from Leone was arrested by police on the weekend on allegations that he assaulted a Filipino man and stole his money and mobile cell phone.

Bernard Himphill made his initial appearance in District Court this week where he entered a not guilty plea to the charges of 3rd degree assault and stealing; both misdemeanors.

The government claimed that it was around 9p.m. on Saturday night, July 21, 2018 when the Central Police Station received a call from an anonymous caller regarding a Filipino man who was allegedly assaulted by a Samoan male in front of the Aiga Mart Store in Pago Pago. Several police officers responded to the call.

There was no commotion observed by police when they arrived at the scene, however a few moments later, a male individual who was in the store, and was later identified as the victim in this case came forward and briefed police about the alleged incident.

The victim told police that he was walking in front of the store heading home when a man stopped him and asked for a dollar. When he pulled out his wallet looking for a dollar, Bernard allegedly grabbed the money from his wallet and choked him.

According to the government, as the defendant was choking the victim, he (defendant) then asked the victim to give him his phone. The victim told police that he was angry and at the same time scared and had no choice but to give his phone to the defendant.

After interviewing the victim, another individual who lives around the area came forward and told police that it was Himphill who allegedly assaulted the man. The individual further stated to police officers that right after Himphill assaulted the the Filipino man and got his phone, he then fled the scene.

Police officers were able to spot the defendant who was walking with his girlfriend on a road close to his house. The defendant was apprehended and placed in the police car and brought to the police station. At the police station, the defendant was observed as having a strong odor of alcohol and also slurred speech and bloodshot eyes.

The defendant refused to cooperate with police officers when he was asked about what allegedly happened. He kept telling police officers that if he got locked up, he would never get out because he already had a bench warrant from an old case. When he was asked about the money and the phone he allegedly took from the victim, the defendant told police that the items had been given to his girlfriend. Police were unable to find his girlfriend.

Himphill was then released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in court next month for his pretrial conference.