Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 22, 2024, a concerned mother requested assistance from the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding village police (aumaga) trespassing into their home and allegedly assaulting her daughter.

The head of the village police was apprehended and later charged with the following:

COUNT 1: Private Peace Disturbance — a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine of $300, or both;

COUNT 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both; and,

COUNT 3: Trespass — a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six (6) months, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

(Samoa News withheld names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor (victim) involved in this case.)

According to the affidavit, on March 22, at about 9:41 p.m, a mother contacted TPS in need of assistance in regards to members of the village police (aumaga) trespassing into their home and assaulting her 16-year-old daughter (victim) .

Officers responded to the call and met up with the mother (reporter) of the victim where she briefed the officers about what happened.

According to the victim’s mother, she was informed by her nephew that the aumaga trespassed by entering their home and the head of the village police slapped her daughter’s mouth one time.

At about 10:15 p.m, officers were able to interview the victim in the presence of her mother.

The victim told police she heard people knocking on their front door and was shocked when she heard someone yelling “Open the door!”

The victim said she heard their door open and the head of the aumaga walked towards her and slapped her in the face — on her left cheek.

Officers did not observe any visible injuries on the victim and the victim also refused medical treatment.

About 10:18 p.m, officers interviewed the nephew (witness) at the scene.

According to the witness’s verbal statement, he stated they were inside their house when the head of the village aumaga walked into their home. The witness also stated an unknown individual grabbed the pedestal fan and attempted to hit him with it. He stated he witnessed when the head village police slapped his cousin on the cheek.

At about 10:30 p.m on the same date, officers observed the suspect on the road and he was placed inside the police unit and transported to the TPS for further questioning.

The defendant was Mirandized and refused to make a statement.

He was then booked for 48 hours and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility until the next sitting of the district court.

The defendant is identified as a 43-year-old citizen of Samoa.