Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 4, 2024, a concerned woman contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report that she was in her vehicle and she allegedly saw a woman being beaten by a man near a sewing shop/ bus stop in Nu’uuli.

Lane Levi was arrested and charged with the following:

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

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable for up to one year, a fine of $1,000.00 but not less than $150, or both.

According to the affidavit, the defendant’s bail was set at $10,000.

The affidavit states that on March 4th, at about 4:00 p.m, a concerned woman called the TPS. The witness reported that she was in her vehicle at the intersection and saw a woman being beaten by a man near the Marie Sewing Shop bus stop in Nu’uuli.

When police officers arrived at the scene, they met with a taxi driver at the stand near a family residence in Nu’uuli who briefed them about a man that had beaten his own wife.

According to the report, police officers approached the suspect who was identified as Lane Levi. Mr. Levi was quickly apprehended and placed in the police unit. The victim was told she would be transported to the TPS for medical assistance and for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the TPS, police officers contacted the EMS since the victim had sustained minor injuries to her face and body.

Police officers interviewed the victim at the TPS and she stated that she was waiting for her husband, who was catching a bus to meet her at the intersection in Nu’uuli near the McDonald’s main office.

She said when they met she told him that she was going to stay with her mother since she “had already told her parents that he had beaten her from Saturday to Sunday at his home”.

The wife said that when she told him her husband struck her face with an umbrella that he was holding and told her she was not going anywhere, and strangled her. As she was gasping for air, he then punched her several times on her head and body. He also grabbed her hair and continued to drag her while saying that she was going nowhere.

It was later revealed that the victim is 4 months pregnant.

The EMS arrived at the TPS and treated the victim for minor scratches on her face. Police officers took photographs of the victim’s injuries, including those allegedly sustained on Saturday and Sunday. She had bruises on her arms and upper chest.

At about 5:00 p.m, Levi was Mirandized and agreed to answer questions and make a statement.

According to Levi, he did not assault his wife and that he only held on to her since she was mad but didn’t harm her in any way.

Levi was booked at the TPS and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined.

The defendant is identified as a 32-year-old U.S National.