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Deputy Commish believes cops with assault charges were doing their job

DPS Central Station
He claims “excessive force” is sometimes necessary when people resist
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — DPS Deputy Commissioner, Jerry Letuli explained that the reason why a total of six police officers in two separate incidents investigated by DPS in the past year have been charged with assault is because they used “excessive force” to take down a suspect after the suspect resisted arrest.

The Deputy Commissioner was referring to the four police officers arrested this week in the alleged assault of Sitope Faalata, who is accused of assaulting his girlfriend; and a case in April of this year where two officers are accused of assaulting two 15-year olds after they suspected they were part of a group throwing stones.

“We’re not trying to hide anything from the public and no one including all police officers are above the law, however, I truly believe that the six police officers arrested and charged with assault were doing their job,” Letuli said during a one-on-one interview with Samoa News at his office this week.

Letuli explained that when police officers respond to a call involving someone who is under the influence of alcohol, officers must be well prepared because they’re not sure what type of person they are going to arrest.

The deputy commissioner further stated that there are times police officers have a rough time trying to place handcuffs on a suspect, especially when that suspect is under the influence of alcohol. He explained that sometimes people just do not understand what a police officer is trying to communicate, or are confused by what the cop said.

“There are times where suspects willingly comply with police officers instructions and there were also times where some people don’t want to comply and they resist arrest. That is when police officers apply the “excessive force” that is needed to subdue the suspect down,” Letuli explained.

The deputy commissioner explained that the only time police officers apply “excessive force” is when the suspect refuses to comply with their instructions and also resists arrest. Letuli explained that police officers are trained to uphold the law and to know how to perform their duties when they deal with difficult situations like this.

“Officers are well trained how to handle cases where people refuse to comply with their instructions and resist arrest. They know exactly what to do and what time the ‘excessive force’ has to apply,” Letuli said.

For the two separate cases where police officers were arrested and charged for alleged brutal assaults of people they arrested, Letuli explained that the reason why these officers were charged was because they used the “excessive force” to arrest the suspects.

When Samoa News asked Letuli if he really believes that these six police officers were doing their job based on their training on how to deal with this type of situation, he replied, “Yes, I totally believe these officers did their job when they dealt with these suspects, however, people must understand that once police officers use the ‘excessive force’, someone will get injured.”

Letuli also made it clear that DPS is not trying to hide anything from the eye of the law and the public. If a police officer is accused of violating the law or overstepping his/ her duty, DPS will do the right thing and immediately conduct an internal investigation to make sure they have all the facts before they move to the next step.

He explained that the cases against the six police officers are the result of an internal and criminal investigation carried out by DPS on its own personnel.

“As the result of our investigation, charges were filed against these six officers and they will appear before the Court to answer to their charges,” Letuli explained, adding that the six officers are all innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Letuli pointed out that the court will give the answer everyone is waiting for whether these six officers are guilty or not.

“Our job is to investigate and then pass on to the Attorney General’s office [the information] to file charges against these officers. The final say is the court where a ruling will be delivered to determine the outcome of these two cases,” Letuli said.

A family member of the man allegedly assaulted by three police officers at the Fagatogo Market last year told Samoa News that the injuries Sitope Faalata sustained was clear evidence of the severe beating he sustained at the hands of the law enforcers.

“Cops are sworn to serve and to protect and it’s really sad to see that some cops don’t respect the law,” a family member said, adding that no cop is above the law and no matter what the suspect did, cops are held to a high standard.

A witness who was present at the bus depot on the night of the alleged beating last year told Samoa News this week that he and a group of friends were hanging out with the victim when a police vehicle with two police officers pulled up followed by a second unit.

An officer identified by his friends as Faau [Levi] stepped out and walked towards Faalata. Officers then walked Faalata back to the police vehicle that Faau drove in by himself. It was then that they heard a “big bang” and the victim fell to the ground.

BACKGROUND

Two months ago in April, Samoa News reported that two police officers were arrested on the allegation that they assaulted two juvenile males — both 15-years old — who were suspected to be part of a group of young men who were fighting and throwing stones on the road.

The detained officers are DPS Officer Sione Satini and DPS Det. Vegas Pearson. Satini’s bail is set a $2,000, while Pearson’s is at $20,000. The case is still pending in High Court.

This week, four police officers including a police captain were arrested and later charged in connection with an incident that happened in May of last year where a man was severely injured after he was assaulted by a police officer at the Fagatogo Market.

The four officers are Captain Margie Alofaituli, Off. Dustin Maiava, Off. Faau Levi and Off. Elleryquinn Histake.

Alofaituli’s bail is set at $15,000, Maiava and Histake’s bail are set at $20,000, while Levi’s bail is set at $25,000.

Samoa News reported on this case in detail in its’ Tuesday, June 1, 2022 edition.