Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 15, 2024, Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call regarding a female individual who allegedly slapped a minor at church.

The suspect was arrested and charged with: Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree, ( As a class C Misd.) (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $300.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor involved in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 15th, at about 11:50 a.m., the TPS received a call from a male individual (reporter) to report that the suspect assaulted his 9-year-old son (victim) on the head. The suspect was also later identified as the victim’s aunt.

The police officer responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they met up with the reporter who was interviewed regarding the incident.

According to the reporter, he came home from work and his son (victim) came to him crying. His son told him that the suspect slapped him inside the church. The reporter also stated that this isn’t the first time the suspect has done this to his son. He said that he confronted the suspect and asked her if she had any right to hit his son in which she replied that “she has a right to hit the victim”.

The reporter showed the officers where the suspect’s residence was located. The officers proceeded to locate the suspect and notified her about the allegations. The suspect was advised to go to the TPS.

The officers also met up with the victim and interviewed him about what happened.

The victim stated that as he was about to pick up the trash inside the church, the suspect slapped him on his head. He cried and ran outside to tell his sister (witness) about what happened. The victim stated that his sister asked the suspect why he slapped her brother and the suspect told them to “watch their mouths or else she’ll come over and slap them in the mouth.”

The officers interviewed the witness and she stated that she was inside her car waiting for her brother (victim). She explained that her brother came crying to her and told her that the suspect had slapped him on the head. She then walked up to the suspect and asked her why she hit her brother and the suspect told them that she’ll come over and slap their faces.

Another witness was also interviewed and she stated that as she exited the church, she saw the suspect slap the victim on the head which caused him to cry.

Upon arrival at the station, the suspect was Mirandized and she said she understood, and agreed to make a statement.

According to the suspect, she told the victim to pick up the trash inside the church. She claimed that she tapped him on the head not knowing it wasn’t his trash. She also said that he didn’t know that the victim had cried until the victim’s sister came with the victim and asked her why she slapped her brother. The suspect admitted that she told the victim’s sister to watch her mouth or she’ll come over and slap them in their faces.

The suspect also mentioned that the victim’s father/ reporter (an off duty officer) came to her and asked why she slapped his son and also asked her “if she has any right to slap his kid?”

The suspect claimed that the reporter cursed at her and said that “I'll come over and lock you up”. The suspect said she cussed back at him and they got into an argument and she didn't know who called the police.

The suspect was booked at the Tafuna Correctional Facility awaiting the next sitting of the District Court.