Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On February 20, 2024, a woman contacted the Tafuna Police Station (TPS) to report her husband causing a disturbance at their home in Fagaima.

The suspect was apprehended and was charged with Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (PPD) — a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both.

The bail for the defendant was set at $500.

According to the affidavit, on February 20, at about 3:29 pm, a woman contacted TPS to report that her husband Joe Taylor (suspect) was drunk and swearing repeatedly inside their home in Fagaima.

Upon arrival at the scene, police officers met with the suspect’s daughter where she pointed her finger across the street near the taxi stand in Fagaima. When officers spoke with the daughter, she told them that her father was wearing a purple shirt and blue jeans. Police looked across the street and saw an individual who matched the description.

As the officers reversed their vehicle, they saw the person matching the description running towards the taxi stand while looking at them.

The officers chased the individual on foot and were able to capture him inside a family’s home.

As one of the police officer’s escorted the defendant to the unit they were able to identify him as Joe Taylor. Taylor was also arrested last year on a PPD.

When police officers placed the defendant in the police unit, they detected a strong smell of alcohol emitting from his breath. Police then returned to interview his wife.

According to the affidavit, Mrs. Taylor stated that her husband had left home to do his monthly sign in at the District Court. When he came back she told him to get some rest since he reeked of alcohol. Out of anger he cussed at her repeatedly, causing a disturbance in their home.

She also stated her husband is on probation and was just released from prison on January 12, 2024.

Taylor was then transported to the TPS to be processed.

Upon arrival at the station, Mr. Taylor was Mirandized and refused to make a statement.

He was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TFC) to be confined.

The defendant is identified as a 56-year-old, U.S National.

NICK TOIMOANA

On February 16, 2024, a father drove into the Fagatogo Central Police Station (FPS) parking lot seeking assistance to calm down his intoxicated son who was allegedly causing a disturbance on his bus.

The suspect was arrested and was charged with the following:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance — a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for six months, a fine of $500, or both;

Count 2 & 3: Assault in the Third Degree (As a C Misd.) — a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 4: Resisting Arrest — a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

According to the affidavit, Nick Toimoana Jr. (defendant) was heavily intoxicated and was being unruly to his father Viliamu Talai (victim) on the bus in Utulei. The defendant was being loud and yelling out profanities in Samoan, the affidavit said.

On February 16, police officers were outside the station when a black pick up truck drove into the FCS parking lot. An unknown male who was operating the vehicle hopped out of the driver’s side and called out to the police officers for assistance. The officers approached the vehicle and observed two males in the back seat of the vehicle. One male was allegedly detaining the other in the back seat by wrapping his arms around the other male’s chest. The male that was being detained was also observed bleeding from his nose.

According to affidavit, one of the officers approached the vehicle and notified the other male to release the defendant and that he would take care of him. The officer calmly asked the injured male to easily step out of the vehicle so he could talk to him. The injured male (defendant) leaned over and grabbed the officer by the collar but the officer was able to pull his hand away. The police officers with the assistance of the driver of the truck managed to pull the defendant out of the vehicle.

It was later revealed that the male detaining the defendant inside the vehicle was the father of the defendant and also the victim. The victim verbally stated that the defendant was his son and he was causing a disturbance on his bus.

As soon as the defendant was out of the vehicle, one of the officers and the driver held him down while the other officer went to place the handcuffs on the defendant. A struggle ensued with Toimoana while police tried to place handcuffs on him.

Toimoana allegedly managed to free his hands and squeeze one of the officers (female) on her arm and pinch her left side. The other officer then pinned the Toimoana’s arm and told the female officer to call out for back up. The female officer ran into the station and called out for assistance and several officers rushed out to assist.

While one of the officers and the driver of the truck were pinning the defendant to the vehicle they were assisted by several officers, and were able to grab the defendant and pin him to the ground, and finally putting Toimoana in handcuffs.

However, Toimoana continued to resist, refusing to get inside the police unit. More officers had to assist in order to be able to get the defendant inside the police vehicle.

The defendant was transported to the TCF for booking.

Upon arrival at the TCF, police tried to remove the handcuffs from the defendant but he continued to resist.

With the assistance from the TCF officers, they managed to pin Toimoana down and remove his handcuffs.

Toimoana’s information was recovered from the TCF system, which identified him as Nick Toimoana Jr. The defendant was booked and confined until the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 22-year-old, U.S National.