Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of assaulting another man during a public peace disturbance is now charged with violating local drug laws.

Tauroma Fred appeared in Court last month for his initial appearance.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana and one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth), both unclassified felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than ten years, a fine of not more than $20,000, along with one count of 3rd- degree assault and PPD, both class A misdemeanors.

Bail is set at $15,000.

THE ALLEGATION AGAINST FRED

Around 6:22p.m on July 15, 2022, the lead investigator in this matter was informed of the matter at the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) after traffic officers detained two young males for disturbing the public peace in the Tafuna area.

Furthermore, the lead investigator was also informed that illegal drugs were discovered on one of the individuals.

Three investigators responded to the call and were briefed by officers at the TPS about the incident.

According to the officers, they were patrolling the Tafuna public highway near the Veterans Stadium when they observed a group of four young men throwing rocks at a man who was standing in front of the stadium.

The man, who was later identified as the victim in this case flagged down a police unit and requested assistance saying that one of the men had punched him in the face and then stole his phone and wallet containing $150 cash.

The victim further told cops that the four young men were running towards the airport. Cops searched the area looking for the four who allegedly assaulted the victim and stole his belongings.

Two hours later on the same night, cops observed two young males that matched the description of those who assaulted the victim, walking on the road in front of the American Samoa Power Authority.

Cops approached them and asked them to come with them to the TPS to discuss a matter they were investigating. The two males looked nervous and did not wish to cooperate with police, however, after further discussion, they agreed togo to the TPS. One of the two l was later identified as Tauroma Fred, the defendant in this matter.

Fred was patted down for weapons and contraband. During a body search, cop discovered a small stamp-sized baggie containing green leafy substance, along with a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance inside his rear pocket.

Nothing was found on the second male, who was identified in the court affidavit as P.N, 23-years old.

When questioned by police, P.N. told investigators that it was Fred who assaulted the victim and one of their friends, identified as K.F. took the phone and the wallet. K.F. and another friend went in a west direction while he and Fred went toward the airport. P.N was later released pending further investigation.

Fred was Mirandized where he said he understood his rights and wished to make a statement.

Fred stated that he, along with 3 of his friends were hanging out at the stadium when they observed a man standing outside of his pickup truck parked on the east side of the stadium.

He then went and asked the man for a cigarette while his three friends were standing on the other side of the stadium. After a confrontation with the man, who was later identified as the victim, he then punched the man in the face and pushed him down on the ground. According to Fred, the man was intoxicated and he had a hard time standing up.

His friend, K.F, 24, ran over and took the victim’s phone and wallet and they immediately fled the area and disappeared.

Fred was later transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) where he was booked and confined.

Investigators are still looking for K.F. who allegedly took the victim’s phone and wallet.

MIKA PALAUNI

Mika Palauni is now in custody charged for violating local drug laws when cops discovered illegal drugs inside his vehicle and in his possession.

Palauni, who made his initial appearance in Court last month, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, an unclassified felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than ten years, a fine of not more than $20,000.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE ALLEGATION

The government claims that around 7:14p.m on July 12, 2022, a four-door blue vehicle was pulled over by patrolling officers during a traffic stop for a traffic violation in the Tafuna area.

Officers approached the vehicle and observed a man alone in the vehicle. He was the driver of the vehicle, and was later identified as Mika Paulauni, the defendant in this matter.

Palauni did not have a driver license. He was asked to exit the vehicle and he complied. Officers then searched Palauni for weapons and contraband and discovered a hard object inside Palauni’s left pants pocket.

Officers asked Palauni what the hard object was and his response was, “I don’t know”.

The hard object from Palauni’s pocket was found to be a glass pipe, containing a white crystalline substance inside.

Palauni was handcuffed and transported to the TPS for further investigation, while his vehicle was also impounded and taken to the TPS.

During an inventory of the vehicle, investigators found 4 empty small stamp-sized baggies lying on the floor of the vehicle. No drugs were found during the search.

Palauni was Mirandized where he said understood his rights and agreed to answer questions. According to Palauni’s verbal and written statements, the glass pipe allegedly containing meth discovered in his possession belonged to him, He said he got it from his girlfriend in Fogagogo and he placed it inside his pocket, however, he was shocked when cops found the glass pipe during the traffic stop.

Palauni was transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) where he was booked and confined.

PALEMA LOLE

The driver of a vehicle that was pulled over by police officers during a traffic stop in Iliili last month was arrested and taken into custody after police allegedly discovered drugs in his vehicle.

On July 21, 2022 about 4:55a.m, two officers patrolling the Iliili area stopped a vehicle for speeding. The driver of the vehicle was later identified as Palema Lole, the defendant in this case.

According to the officers’ verbal statement to investigators, as they spoke with Lole they observed a glass pipe in the driver’s seat door compartment. The officers immediately detained Lole and impounded his vehicle at the TPS for further investigation.

Officers also conducted an inventory of the vehicle where officers discovered another glass pipe in the center console with a usable amount of a white crystalline substance inside.

The inventory continued and officers discovered half a hand rolled marijuana joint under the driver’s seat. All the evidence was referred to Vice & Narcotics detectives for further investigation.

Detectives interviewed Lole after he was Mirandized, and he refused to make a statement.

Testing of all substances revealed positive results for meth and THC/ marijuana.

Lole made his initial appearance in District Court last month.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5,000 note more than $20,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000.

UPUSAILI LALOATA

A man accused of violating local drug laws last year was arrested by police last month. The man, Upusaili Laloata fled from police officers during a traffic stop, however, he was arrested last month after he was served with a copy of the arrest warrant. 

Laloata made his initial appearance in Court last month.

Laloata is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance meth; one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance meth with intent to distribute; and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, all unclassified felonies.

Bail is established at $20,000.

THE ALLEGATION

The government claims that on July 7, 2022 at about 6:10p.m, four police officers who were patrolling the public highway on the west side received a radio transmission from another patrol car stating that they were in a hot pursuit of a vehicle heading to the west side.

The four officers responded and headed to the west bound lane in Leone where the fleeing truck was speeding away, heading straight to the back of a dirt road. The police unit continued to pursue the speeding vehicle until they reached a dead end. Three males were seen exiting the truck and fleeing on foot up to the top of the mountain.

The four police officers pursued the three males on foot and while searching for them police allegedly heard gunshots coming from the other side of the mountain. Police then decided to halt their search and return back to the area where their unit was parked.

On their way back to their police unit, officers saw one of the men hiding inside a bushy area and they immediately apprehended him and transported him to the police unit.

Officers discovered one glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance, 3 hand rolled cigarettes containing a green leafy substance and cash on him.

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of more illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as cash that was found inside a back bag in the truck.

The male was transported to the TPS for questioning. He told police that everything that was discovered inside the vehicle belonged to him. The vehicle belonged to his father and he used it to pick up his friends.

According to the government, the defendant was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, while the passengers were sitting in the back seat.

The defendant further stated that the drugs found on him and inside his vehicle were bought from a man from Vaitogi.

The white crystalline substance inside the glass pipe found in Laloata’s possession tested positive for meth.

Officers also tested the drugs that were allegedly found inside the truck, and they were positive for meth and THC/ marijuana.