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Alleged fist fight lands two in jail

TCF GATE
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 1st, 2024, a concerned citizen contacted the Tafuna Police Station (TPS) regarding two male individuals who were allegedly disturbing the peace and fighting in a public place.

The two suspects were apprehended where one of them was 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.

The defendant’s bail was set at $300.

According to the affidavit, on November 1, 2024 at about 2:11 a.m., an individual contacted the TPS and reported that two male individuals were causing a disturbance.

It was reported that the two individuals were shouting profanities in Samoan alarming the neighbors and the community. Both individuals were intoxicated and engaged in a fist fight.

Police officers responded to the call immediately and upon arrival at the location, observed two individuals who were throwing stones at each other and yelling profanities in Samoan and saying “they don’t care about police officers”.

As the officers exited their vehicle, one of the male individuals ran to the back of the store, while the other ran inside the store — the first suspect (Va’ai Anetipa) was apprehended inside the store.

Police officers went to the back of the store and located the second suspect who was hiding under a vehicle that was parked next to a family home. The second suspect was later identified as a minor, who was a juvenile that was known in multiple stealing and burglary cases.

Police officers placed the juvenile inside the police unit to be transported to the TPS for further investigation. As the officers placed him inside the unit, the officers could smell a strong odor of alcohol from the minor’s breath.

Officers proceeded to the TPS to calm the minor down, however, he refused to listen and started yelling profanities and challenging the officers to a fist fight.

Suspect #1 — Anetipa — who was also escorted to the police unit, was also shouting profanities in Samoan. Officers also detected a strong alcohol odor emitting from suspect #1.

It was later revealed that Anetipa was only 20years old, and while not a minor, he was underage for alcohol consumption.

Upon arrival at the TPS, both suspects were still shouting and refusing to obey the officers.

Authorities booked Anetipa at the TPS and he was transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The officers contacted the legal guardian for suspect #2 to come by the TPS and notified her about the juvenile who was involved in a fist fight while intoxicated. Suspect #2 was released to his legal guardian.

The defendants are identified as follow:

The minor is a 17 year-old U.S National and Vaai Anetipa is a 20-year old U.S National.