Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 25, 2024, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received an anonymous call reporting that he allegedly saw two inmates and a police officer in a vehicle in Vaitogi. Police officers were able to locate the vehicle which resulted in an arrest of one of the inmates, who was found in possession of drugs.

The defendant/ inmate was transported back to prison and later charged with:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $20,000, a term of imprisonment of not less 5 than five years, nor more than 20 years, or both imprisonment and fine.

The affidavit indicates that the defendant is arrested and imprisoned “without bail”.

According to the affidavit, on Sept. 25th, at about 2:15 p.m., the TPS dispatch requested Vice & Narcotics assistance regarding a traffic stop that led to the discovery of what appeared to be drugs.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the Vice & Narcotics officer met with the TPS officer where she transferred over to the Vice & Narcotics officer a glass pipe containing crystalline substances along with a clear cut up straw with blue stripes also containing crystalline substance and a lighter.

According to the TPS officer, TPS received an anonymous call at around 1:10 p.m stating that two inmates were observed in Vaitogi in a gray vehicle and that the vehicle was driven by someone in a police uniform. The information of the vehicle and of the inmates were sent through all-point’s bulletin via police radio and telephone for the officers on the road to look out for the vehicle.

At approximately 2: 41 p.m., one of the police units reported that they observed and conducted a traffic stop in front of the Vaitele store in Nu'uuli.

The officers identified and confirmed two of the male individuals from the vehicle to be the inmates of the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF). The two inmates were identified as Sierra Isaia and Sui Tago,(hereinafter defendant).

(A male Corrections Officer (CO) was the driver of the vehicle, but because he is not formally charged or arrested, Samoa News has chosen not to identify him.)

Before the officers instructed the inmates to step out of the vehicle, one of the responding officers claimed that he observed Isaia put something in his mouth and swallow it.

Both inmates were searched at the scene where one of the officers discovered a glass pipe containing crystalline substance and a smaller clear cut up straw also containing a crystalline substance, a lighter and a cellphone inside Tago’s pockets. Isaia was found to have $72.35 cash and a cellphone in his pockets.

The inmates and the CO were transported to the TPS for further investigation.

Vice & Narcotics Captain tested the crystalline substance from the glass pipe and from the cut up straw using the Methamphetamine Field Test Kit and revealed positive results for methamphetamine (meth).

The defendant, Tago was Mirandized and did not waive his rights.

Police officers also met with inmate Isaia who verbally stated that the assistant Warden gave the CO permission to take him and the defendant to pick up his paint machine at his residential home and to help the CO paint his home.

Isaia further stated that they went to three different locations with the CO after going to his home and discovered someone had broken into his storage and stole his paint machine. He stated that they also went to two of his friends’ houses looking for his paint machine but they didn’t find it. Isaia claimed that they were coming back to the TCF when they heard a police siren behind them and were stopped by the police.

When Isaia was asked if he had knowledge that Tago was in possession of a glass pipe and a cut up straw containing meth, he stated no.

The officers interviewed the CO involved, and he stated that he notified the Warden a week before he left the island that he needed the inmates to help paint his home and he was given permission for his job at home.

The CO further stated that because of the bad weather he couldn’t take them the prior week. He said that today (Sept. 25, 2024) was his day off and he came in and requested the inmates for his job to the Assistant Warden.

He was given the permission to take Isaia and Tago. The CO also confirmed Isaia’s story about going to different places in search of Isaia’s paint machine, needed for his job at home.

The CO was also asked if he had knowledge that the defendant had in his possession a glass pipe used to smoke meth and a cut up straw containing meth and he also stated “no”.

On the same date, officers also met with the TCF Assistant Warden and he was informed of the case. The Assistant Warden stated that he did give permission to the CO to take the inmates out of TCF to get the paint machine and bring it straight back to TCF.

The glass pipe, cut up straw, lighter and the two cell phones were confiscated from the inmates and were recorded and taken into evidence.

Both inmates were transported back to the TCF for confinement.

Tago is identified as the defendant in the case, and is a 45-year-old U.S National.