Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 4, 2024, a woman (later identified as the victim) contacted the Tafuna Police Substation to report that her husband allegedly assaulted her and threatened to kill her in front of their children.

The suspect later turned himself in and was charged with the following:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine of $300, but not less than $150, or both.

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $3,000.

(Samoa News withheld names of those involved in this case to protect the identities of the children involved.)

According to the affidavit, on April 4, at about 6:40 p.m, a woman told police she was physically assaulted by her husband inside their home in Puapua.

Upon arrival at the scene, the officers met with the victim and she briefed the officers about the incident and stated that the defendant had fled the scene.

Officers attempted to locate the defendant but he was nowhere to be found.

Police officers informed the victim that she would be removed from her home immediately and transported to the TPS along with her children for safety. The victim and her three children were then transported to the TPS for further investigation, and the EMS was requested to check the victim’s injuries.

According to the victim’s verbal and written statement, she had a verbal argument with the suspect at about 1:00 p.m on the said date at their home in Puapua. She then told the suspect to drop her off along with their 7-year-old son to his sister in Nu’uuli to avoid any problems between them.

She explained that about 6:00 p.m, the suspect and the kids came to pick her up. The victim said she thought that everything was good between her and her husband, but instead he grabbed her aggressively and pushed her inside the car.

As they arrived home in Puapua, the victim explained she got out of the car and walked home while the suspect and children followed along. The suspect then started yelling profanities and he pushed her inside the house, and punched her twice in the face and told her not to scream or he would cut off her head with an ax in front of their children.

On the same date at about 8:19 p.m, the suspect walked into the TPS regarding the matter. Police officers Mirandized the suspect and he refused to make a statement.

The defendant was booked and confined until the next sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 40-year-old citizen of Samoa.