Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On February 28, 2026, a man called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) to report an alleged disturbance in the village of Gataivai.

Solofua Fa'atafa 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 not to exceed $500, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, the incident was called in around midnight by a concerned resident to report that Mr. Faatafa, who was allegedly intoxicated was causing a major disturbance in the area.

The caller reported that Faatafa was yelling loudly, shouting war cries, and using profane language while making unreasonable and continuous noise that echoed throughout the neighborhood.

Responding officers made contact with the reporting party, who immediately briefed them on the situation and provided a description of Faatafa, including his clothing and the direction he was last seen heading.

The officers began canvassing the surrounding area in an attempt to locate Faatafa, but were unable to locate him at that time. After the initial search, officers returned to the FPS.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., the police were contacted again. Faatafa had apparently returned to the neighborhood and was once again yelling loudly and disturbing the peace. The caller emphasized that the suspect’s behavior had not improved and that the noise continued to disrupt nearby households.

Officers immediately responded to the second call and returned to the area. Upon arrival, they located Faatafa standing on the roadway behind a local ice cream shop. Officers exited their vehicle and approached Faatafa in an attempt to detain him.

Police reported that Faatafa refused to comply with their commands and became increasingly hostile. As officers attempted to place him under arrest, he allegedly resisted by pulling away and tensing his body, making it difficult for officers to secure him in handcuffs.

The affidavit further states that Faatafa engaged in aggressive behavior during the encounter, resulting in a brief struggle with officers before he was eventually subdued and taken into custody.

Officers also noted that a strong odor of alcohol was emitting from Faatafa’s breath and person, indicating that he was highly intoxicated at the time of the incident.

During the course of the investigation, the reporting party provided a detailed statement regarding the events leading up to the disturbance.

He explained that Faatafa had been drinking alcohol earlier in the evening while participating in a billiards game with other individuals in the neighborhood. Tensions arose during the game when Faatafa became upset with his teammates’ performance. Witnesses reported that he began yelling and directing insults toward those around him, which caused concern among the group. Attempts were made to calm him down, and he was advised to go home and rest due to his level of intoxication.

However, Faatafa allegedly refused to leave and continued to behave in a disruptive and disrespectful manner. The reporting party stated that he eventually demanded that Faatafa leave the premises due to his unacceptable behavior and the disturbance he was causing.

Faatafa left the gathering, but continued to create a disturbance as he walked through the neighborhood — yelling loudly, shouting war cries, and using profane language.

Residents in the area reported being disturbed by the loud noise, with some stating that they felt uneasy due to his aggressive behavior and continuous shouting late at night.

Following his arrest, Faatafa was processed and booked.

The defendant is identified as a 30-year-old U.S National.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 2, 2026.

[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.]