Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 14, 2025, a 29-year-old man was arrested early in the morning following an alleged assault involving a beer bottle near a bus stop in the Tafuna area, an incident police say was fueled by alcohol and escalated despite attempts to calm the situation.

Mr. Dan Teofilo was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by

imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

According to the court affidavit filed in District Court on Dec. 15th, an assault in front of the bus stop near Tropical Pizza was reported in the early morning hours of Dec. 14th to police — a location that remains active during late-night and early-morning hours.

Officers responded after the female victim reported being struck during the confrontation involving a male individual later identified as Dan Teofilo.

When officers arrived at the scene, they met with the victim, who provided an initial account of the incident. The suspect was no longer present at the location, prompting officers to gather information and begin an immediate search of the surrounding area.

According to the police report, the incident began as a verbal dispute between the suspect and a relative of the victim. The situation reportedly intensified when the suspect began shouting profanities in public. Concerned that the confrontation could escalate, the victim intervened in an attempt to calm the situation and prevent it from becoming physical.

Instead, authorities say the situation escalated rapidly. During the interaction, the suspect allegedly struck the victim in the face with a beer bottle, causing visible injuries. The victim then contacted police for assistance.

Officers observed that the victim sustained a laceration to her lip and that her clothing was stained with blood. As part of standard police procedure, she was transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS), where photographs were taken to document her injuries for evidentiary purposes.

The victim informed officers that the suspect fled the scene shortly after the incident in a pickup taxi. She provided a physical description, stating that the suspect was a fa’afafine, wearing a white top and had long hair. Using this information, officers began searching nearby areas and monitoring taxi routes commonly used during early-morning hours.

While canvassing the area near Lions Park, officers stopped a pickup taxi. The driver informed police that an individual matching the description had been picked up from the bus stop near Tropical Pizza and dropped off near the tennis courts at Lions Park.

Officers proceeded to Lions Park, where they located an individual near the tennis courts who matched the description provided. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and transported to the TPS for further questioning.

At the station, officers noted that the suspect appeared to be heavily intoxicated, detecting a strong odor of alcohol. When questioned, the suspect admitted to consuming alcohol earlier in the evening and stated that he had just come from a bar.

During questioning, the suspect provided his account of the events leading up to the assault. According to police, the suspect acknowledged being involved in an argument with another female when the victim intervened. The suspect stated that he became upset after the victim made a comment regarding his gender. He admitted that he then struck the victim in the facial area with a beer bottle.

Based on the documented injuries, physical evidence, and the suspect’s admission, police placed the suspect under arrest. Solomona was booked and later transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility, to remain in custody pending the next sitting of the District Court.

Police continue to warn that alcohol-related disputes can escalate quickly and result in serious injury. Authorities urge members of the public to avoid volatile situations and to seek assistance or contact law enforcement when conflicts begin to intensify.

The defendant is identified as a 29 year-old citizen of Samoa.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]