Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who has a pending matter in the Family, Drug and Alcohol (FDA) court was arrested last weekend and charged with criminal contempt.

Malaki Vivi made his initial appearance in District Court last week.

According to the government's case, police got a call for assistance in Leone last week, reporting that Vivi was drunk and disorderly.

A police dispatcher claimed to have heard "people yelling and shouting profane words and children crying" in the background.

Cops who responded to the call say they heard people screaming from several houses down when they approached the area. A search for the suspect was carried out at his home, which is near the ocean.

An officer shined his flashlight at the shore and spotted Vivi standing at the end, "as if he was getting ready to jump into the ocean," according to court documents.

A police officer called out to Vivi to "come up" but Vivi allegedly called back to the cop, "No, I'm leaving."

Vivi then jumped into the ocean and started swimming. One of the cops was trying to make his way down to the edge of the shore while at the same time, the suspect's children were crying. When Vivi heard this, he yelled back at the cops, telling them he was "coming back."

He then swam back to shore and turned himself in.

Vivi was transported to the DPS Leone Substation for further questioning.

According to a witness who spoke to police, Vivi came home and started screaming at everyone in the house. The witness said this was usual for Vivi when he came home intoxicated.

When a female family member told Vivi to tone it down, Vivi turned around and started a verbal argument with her, with Vivi cussing at her, her kids, and other members of the household. Vivi reeked of alcohol, according to the witness.

SOLOMONA TOLAI

An intoxicated man who was picked up by cops Saturday, Aug. 21 and charged with public peace disturbance and resisting arrest has been released on his own recognizance, under standard conditions.

Solomona Tolai made his initial appearance in District Court last week. His next court appearance is next month.

According to the government's case, the alleged disturbance occurred in Vaitogi. When police arrived, Tolai allegedly had fled but was being chased by another male on the roadside. Cops pulled up alongside Tolai who "continued to walk away."

Court documents state that Tolai raised his hands up and continuously said that what he did was in self defense. Cops noted that Tolai sustained a laceration on his left eyebrow.

A witness told police that Tolai was drinking with some friends near the scene and when he walked into his uncle's home, and heard his girlfriend "laughing loudly" in the presence of others and this made Tolai upset.

Court documents say Tolai then yelled profanities and shouted a Samoan war cry inside the house. Tolai's uncle and cousin "attempted to calm" him down but Tolai "became more aggressive," according to the criminal complaint.

He ran out of the house when he heard his uncle calling the police.

According to investigators, Tolai resisted when handcuffed and he "attempted to flee but was blocked" by two officers.

Tolai was transported to the hospital via ambulance and treated in the LBJ Emergency Room before he was taken back to custody at the TCF.