Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA —  On January 28, 2024, a woman contacted Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) to report a man who allegedly broke the front sliding glass door at their home in Fagaalu.

Tino Tapua’ialupe was arrested and later charged with the following:

Count 1: Property Damage in the 2nd Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1,000, or both;

Count 2: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six (6) months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 3: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine of $300, or both.

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

According to the affidavit, a woman contacted FPS alleging that Tino Tapua’ialupe broke the sliding glass door (front entrance) at their house in Fagaalu.

Police were dispatched at the scene and upon arrival, police officers observed the reporter and 2 males (later identified as the reporter’s brothers) were holding the suspect captive. Police officers immediately apprehended the suspect and placed him inside the police unit. It was reported that the defendant was unable to stand still during the apprehension and police officers detected a strong odor of alcohol from the suspect.

The police officers proceeded to speak with the family members and assess the damages as reported by the family at the house.

Police met up with an individual female who identified herself as Christina Falanika and also the victim in the matter. The victim provided a verbal statement to the police officers.

According to the victim, she was alone at home when Tapua’ialupe appeared at their house intoxicated and wanted to talk to her. She stated they had an argument about the relationship they used to have and she told him to leave but he was reluctant to do so. She kept telling the suspect to leave but he wouldn't. She then called her cousins to inform them about the situation and that’s when he punched their sliding glass door (front entrance) leaving a hole in it.

Upon arrival at the FPS, the suspect was booked, confined and then later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) to await the next sitting of the District Court.

The suspect is identified as a U.S National and a resident of Tafuna.

SIMANU TOFA

On January 27, a traffic stop resulted in an arrest of a passenger for consuming alcohol inside a moving vehicle.

The passenger was arrested and later charged with Count 1: Prohibited Place of Consumption.

According to the affidavit, on January 27, 2024 at around 6:24 p.m, police officers stationed across from Matafao Elementary observed a vehicle on the public highway heading Eastbound at a high rate of speed. Police officers utilized a handheld Lidar registering the vehicle moving at 30 mph in a 20 mph zone. A traffic stop of the vehicle was conducted across from Matafao.

Police officers approached the driver and informed him of the reason for the vehicle stop and showed him his speed that was registered on the handheld Lidar.

The driver was asked for his driver’s license which he said that he had forgotten at home. However, the driver was able to present another form of identification card.

While the police officer informed his superior regarding the driver’s non-possession of driver’s license, the passenger behind the driver opened his door and was seen holding an opened beer can.

The police officer asked the passenger to step out of the vehicle which he came out holding a black shopping bag and a can of beer that was still cold. The passenger was informed that drinking alcoholic beverages inside a moving vehicle is against the law to which he replied he didn’t know.

The passenger, later identified as Simanu Tofa was handcuffed and transported to the TCF to be confined until the next sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a U.S National.

SATUNU TAUTAU

On June 21, 2024, three male individuals, which included a minor, were reported in Fagaima, by Ms. Naomi Oney to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for throwing rocks at her house, almost hitting her, after she had approached them and asked them kindly to keep the noise down. They also yelled profanities at her during the incident.

According to the affidavit, when police arrived at Oney’s residence, the three males were still throwing rocks at Oney’s home, and were unaware that the police had arrived. However, when they saw the police units they “took off on foot” and a chase with police ensued.

One of the males was caught and apprehended and taken to the TPS for processing. It was at TPS that he was identified as a minor and his parents were contacted before the investigation continued.

When his parents arrived at TPS, the minor was Mirandized, “in the Samoan language in the presence of his father.”

He agreed to provide a verbal statement, in which he told police that he was only an observer of the incident “from a distance”, which involved some of the village boys getting beat up.

“He said he did not intervene or get involved.”

However, one of the police officers that had been at the scene told the minor that he “was not being truthful” as officers had observed him as being one of the males that was seen “throwing stones”.

The minor then “finally admitted that it was him and his friends Tautau and Faaliga from Naomi Oney’s soccer team that threw the rocks at Oney’s house.”

During the interview of the minor, a strong odor of alcoholic beverages was smelled emitting from his breath and person; and when the minor was asked if he had consumed alcohol he stated “no”.

A Breathalyzer was administered to determine the blood alcohol content in the minor’s system — a BAC reading of 0.053% was taken.

The minor was booked and then released into the custody of his father.

The affidavit notes that the minor’s two friends, Satunu Tautau and Edward Faaliga are “two individuals that continue to cause havoc in the village of Fagaima, by continuously stoning vehicles and family residences, before fleeing from responding officers.”

All three males are identified as US Nationals.

Faaliga and Tautau have also been charged in the case for PPD and bail has been set at $500 for each man. Their affidavits reiterate the apprehension of the minor  in the case, but do not state when or how either of the men were arrested.