Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 23, 2025, a victim of a domestic dispute contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding her ex-boyfriend who was allegedly causing a disturbance.

The defendant was arrested and charged with:

Count 1 & 4: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of up to $300, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2 & 5: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of up to $300, or both;

Count 3 & 6: Trespass (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not to exceed $300, or both; and,

Count 7: Burglary in the Second Degree (DV), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed seven years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

The court affidavit stated that on Apr. 23rd, at approximately 9:00 p.m, a woman (later identified as the victim) contacted the TPS to report her ex-boyfriend. The victim stated that her ex-boyfriend (later identified as the defendant) was causing a disturbance at her family home.

The victim claimed that the defendant was yelling out profanities in Samoan while swinging a machete as he approached her.

Authorities responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they met with the victim where she briefed them regarding the incident. According to the victim, the defendant no longer lives with her but he tends to show up unexpectedly and cause trouble.

The officers asked for the suspect’s whereabouts to which the victim stated that he was hiding out in a makeshift shack behind her neighbor’s house.

An investigation later revealed that the victim and the defendant used to live together on the victim’s family land. However, the victim’s family banished the defendant from their property roughly three to four months ago.

The officers then proceeded to the neighbor’s residence to locate the defendant. Upon approaching the neighbor’s house, the defendant saw the responding officers and fled on foot. The officers pursued the defendant but they were unsuccessful due to the uneven terrain and poor lighting.

On Apr. 24, 2025, the victim contacted the TPS again and reported that the defendant returned to her home and entered her house through the window on the north side of the building.

The victim explained that the defendant woke her up and demanded that she hand over her phone. She further stated that she gave him the phone because she feared for her life. The victim informed the authorities that before the defendant left he threatened her and told her in Samoan that “he will kill her today if she ever called the police”.

Authorities proceeded to the said call but the defendant fled on foot for the second time.

On the same day, around 8:54 p.m., the victim called the police again and informed them that the defendant was sleeping inside an outdoor kitchen area next to her house.

The officers responded to serve the call again and upon arrival at the scene, they approached the kitchen area and observed the defendant sleeping under a shelf — he was immediately apprehended.

The defendant was transported to the station for processing.

The defendant had a fanny pack around his waist to which the responding officer was granted consent from the defendant to go through it. While inspecting the defendant’s fanny pack, a small green container was found inside to which it contained a glass pipe commonly utilized to smoke Methamphetamine. In addition, a stamp size baggie was found which appeared to be white crystalline substance.

The Vice and Narcotic Unit (VNU) was notified of the finding and all the evidence was yielded to the VNU for further investigation.

There is no explanation as to why no drug charges were lodged.

The defendant was later Mirandized to which he understood and refused to make a statement.

He was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 27-year-old citizen of Samoa.