Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 28, 2024, a male individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) claiming his son was disturbing the peace at their home in Faleniu.

The defendant was later apprehended and charged with the following charges:

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

Count 2: Underage Consumption of Alcohol, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

According to the affidavit, on June 28, 2024 at about 3:57 p.m, the TPS received a phone call from a male individual later identified as the father of the defendant and also a victim in this case. The father alleged that his son AJ Mailani, who is 19- years old, had consumed alcoholic beverages and disturbed the peace within his family home in Faleniu.

The father claimed that the defendant was yelling profanity and making unreasonable noises which alarmed his household.

Officers responded immediately and upon arrival at the scene, they made initial contact with a female individual later identified as Victim #1, a witness of the matter, and an aunt to AJ (sister to Victim #2’s wife).

The aunt claimed that at around 3:10 p.m, she was inside her home when all of a sudden she heard noises coming from outside her house. When she walked outside she saw her nephew Mailani, AJ yelling profanity at his father (Victim #2).

Victim #1 also alleged that the defendant was shouting and cursing at her daughter while they were trying to calm him down. She explained that the defendant refused to listen and continued to yell.

Moreover, she stated in the affidavit that the defendant grabbed a window louver and hit his head with it, which left him (defendant) with a swollen left eye and his forehead with a small cut.

The aunt added that as she grabbed the window louver from her nephew, she stumbled and fell on her side and hit her head on a rock, as a result she sustained a small cut on her left eye.

She explained that the defendant’s father then walked towards his son and pulled him off of her — AJ was on top of her.

Victim #1 further noted that this was the first time that the defendant was intoxicated, which was repeated when during an interview with the defendant’s father, he also said that this is the first time that his son has consumed alcohol and he was out of control.

The father said that he tried to calm AJ down when he was shouting profanity at his family and also his wife’s sister (Victim #1), and that he repeatedly asked his son to calm down but he refused to listen and challenged him to a fist fight.

Moreover, the father claimed that as he walked up to his son to stop him when AJ suddenly grabbed a window louver and hit his own head with it.

He confirmed the aunt’s fall and explained she hit her head on the louver that the defendant was holding. He further confirmed that he grabbed the defendant and pulled him off of Victim #1 and, then asked Victim #1 to call the police for help.

Later that same day, officers apprehended the defendant and transported him to the TPS for further investigation. Police officers also contacted EMS paramedics due to the defendant’s and victim’s injuries. It was later discovered that the defendant sustained a swollen eye and a small cut on his head whereas Victim #1 sustained a cut on her left eye.

During the booking process, police officers said they detected a strong smell of alcohol from the defendant’s breath and that he had bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech.

The defendant was transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) where he was confined until the next sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 19- year old U.S National.

The affidavit did not state a bail for the defendant.

HUSBAND ARRESTED FOR VIOLATING CIVIL PROTECTION ORDER

On June 25, 2024, a female individual walked into the TPS to allege that her husband violated a Civil Protection Order (CPO) by showing up at her residence in Malaeimi.

The defendant was apprehended and later charged with Count 1: Violation of Certain Orders of Protection (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $3,000.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identities of the minors in this case)

According to the affidavit, on June 25th, at about 2:05 p.m, a woman walked into the TPS and met with a police officer. She provided a CPO copy and submitted a written statement pertaining to her husband violating the CPO.

The woman identified as the victim also provided photos sent by her daughter where the defendant was seen near her residence in Malaeimi. Photos were sent to the police officer by the victim via her personal cell phone.

According to the victim, the restraining order states that the defendant cannot come close to her house, to her and their two minor children.

On June 25, 2024 her daughter sent pictures of her husband standing by her house. The daughter also had photos of the defendant’s car parked adjacent from her house, which she knows is less than 100 feet away.

The victim also stated that her son told her that the defendant tried to talk to him and his sister, to which, according to the CPO, he is not allowed.

The defendant was located at his home in Nu’uuli and he was transported to the TPS. The defendant was informed that he had violated the CPO, of which he was aware.

He (defendant) was then booked and later transported to the TCF to be confined until the next available sitting of the District Court.