Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 31, 2025, local authorities investigated an early morning incident involving an escaped inmate who were allegedly assisted by civilians. The incident included a vehicle pursuit that began in the Faleniu area and ended in Ottoville and Kokoland.

Two defendants were later charged as follow:

Matafua Tali —  Count 1 & 2: Hindering Prosecution - a class D felony, punishable by imprisonment of a term not to exceed five years or payment of a fine not exceeding $5000, or both imprisonment and fine.

Fidelis Taumalua — Count 1: Escape from Confinement, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of a term not to exceed five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both; and,

Count 2: Resisting or Interfering with Arrest, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of a term not to exceed five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

Both defendants were held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, filed in the District Court on January 5, 2026, the incident began at about 1:00 a.m. when officers on routine patrol in Faleniu were approached by two men who reported that a red truck had just taken their portable speaker and a cellular phone. The men were unable to provide a license plate number but gave officers a general description of the vehicle.

A short time later, officers spotted a red pickup truck that matched the description and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Emergency lights were activated and verbal commands were issued over a loudspeaker directing the driver to pull over. Instead of stopping, the driver accelerated and fled, prompting a pursuit.

Police reported that the truck traveled from Pavaiai toward Iliili before turning into Vaitogi. Due to the speed of the vehicle and concerns for public safety, officers decided to terminate the pursuit when the driver of the truck turned off its headlights and continued driving at a high rate of speed, creating hazardous conditions on the roadway.

Information about the fleeing truck was broadcast to other officers in the area.

A short time later, another patrol observed a vehicle matching the description enter the old Country Club Road. Officers attempted to follow the truck but lost sight of it near the intersection across from Misa’s Store.

Police later observed the same red truck make a sharp turn near the Homeland Security building and head toward the Ottoville area. Officers noted that the vehicle was still being driven without headlights.

The truck was then seen traveling towards the Fatu-o-Aiga Road.

Additional officers responding from the Malaeimi and Fagaima area encountered the same vehicle driving into their lane without headlights near BAO Inc. To avoid a collision, officers pulled into a parking area as the truck passed.

Shortly afterward, officers noticed dust rising from Kokoland Road, indicating the likely route taken by the fleeing vehicle. A search of the area was conducted, and officers later returned to the four-corner intersection near a nearby church. At a residence in the area, fresh tire marks were observed leading into the compound.

Police entered the area and observed the rear of a red truck partially concealed behind bushes across a field. Backup units were requested to assist in blocking off surrounding roads.

According to the affidavit, the truck suddenly started up and drove forward before reversing at a high rate of speed toward the officers. Police were forced to turn away to avoid being struck. At the same time, someone threw rocks at the patrol vehicle, striking the windshield. The truck then sped away toward the main road.

Later that morning, officers obtained information identifying the registered owner of the vehicle as Matafua Tali of Pago Pago. Police went to his residence but did not locate the truck.

Tali later contacted officers and told them he could show them where the vehicle was located. He led police to an area behind a residence near KT Mart II, where the truck was found and impounded at about 1:00 p.m.

Tali and his girlfriend, Annie Talaolevave, were taken to the Tafuna Police Substation for questioning.

In his statement to police, Tali said he and Talaolevave had left Pago Pago earlier that evening to drop her off in Pavaiai. While driving, he received a call from an unfamiliar number. The caller identified himself as Fidelis Taumalua, who Tali later learned was an inmate.

Mr. Taumalua asked Tali to pick him up in the Nuuuli area, claiming he needed help towing a vehicle from Mapusaga. Tali said he agreed and drove to Nuuuli, where Taumalua got into the truck. Another inmate, later identified as Taulelei Leatio’o, also climbed into the bed of the truck.

According to Tali, Taumalua then took over driving the vehicle. Tali sat in the front passenger seat, and Talaolevave sat behind him in the rear seat. They later picked up Epeli Vehikite, who had recently been released from the Tafuna Correctional Facility, near the golf course area in Iliili.

The group then drove toward Mapusaga Road and stopped near a house where several individuals approached the residence. A blue vehicle arrived shortly afterward.

Taumalua, Vehikite, and Leatio’o then returned to the truck, and the group proceeded to Faleniu.

While in Faleniu, Taumalua exited the truck and Vehikite was seen carrying a speaker, which was placed inside the vehicle. The group then drove away.

Tali stated that when police activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicle, Taumalua ordered him to drive faster. Tali said he heard officers instructing the vehicle to pull over but continued driving at Taumalua’s direction.

He also stated that the headlights were turned off as they drove through Vaitogi and that the driver and front passenger switched seats near a church in an apparent attempt to avoid identification.

The truck was later driven into Kokoland and hidden behind a residence. When police entered the area and located the truck, Taumalua allegedly ran back to the vehicle, started it, and reversed at high speed toward officers before fleeing again.

Tali further told police that after escaping, Taumalua repainted the hood and welded rear bumper from black to blue in an effort to change the appearance of the truck. The vehicle was later parked behind KT Mart II.

Vehikite later retrieved the speaker and left the area with his wife in a gray van, while Tali and Talaolevave later returned to Pago Pago by bus.

Police said the investigation also revealed information suggesting that escaped inmates may have been assisted by an off-duty correctional officer. That aspect of the case remains under investigation.

Fidelis Taumalua is a 34-year-old US National.

Matafua Tali is a 21-year-old US National.

Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]