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Faaumuumu in eatery parking lot lands man in court

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man has been charged with disturbing the public peace (PPD) after he allegedly shouted threats and yelled the Samoan War Cry (faaumuumu) in a Tafuna area restaurant parking lot.

Valaau Petelo made his initial appearance in court two weeks ago where he was scheduled to appear again in court next month for a pretrial conference.

The government claims that on Nov. 10, 2021, a security guard at a restaurant in the Tafuna area called police to report individuals fighting outside in the parking lot. Several police officers responded to the call and met up with the security guard, who reported that Petelo was shouting threats and the Samoan War Cry (fa’aumuumu).

Petelo and his companions were reported to have approached individuals from the Nu’uuli area and a fight was close to breaking out. Security guards tried to break up the argument — only Petelo did not cooperate, but continued to shout threats and statements such as “I want to go to prison for killing somebody tonight” and “I don’t care if someone called police.”

Security guards could not stop the commotion because Petelo continued to call out to the other group to come back next week “so they can finish this.” According to security this went on for about an hour.

Petelo was released on his own recognizance waiting for his next hearing next month.

BACKGROUND

In May of 2017, Petelo was placed on probation for 12 months after he was convicted for assaulting a man in front of store in Leone. In March of 2020 after serving his probation, Petelo was arrested and charged for punching a taxi driver in the face after the driver refused to move his vehicle that was blocking Petelo’s vehicle.

Two months later in May of 2019, the case against Petelo was dismissed by the court.