Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 14, 2024, a female individual contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) to report an unknown male who allegedly assaulted two women in the store by trying to kiss them.

The defendant was apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

Count 2 & 3: Assault in the Third Degree (As a C. Misd.), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 4 & 5: Assault in the Third Degree (As a A. Misd.), punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $8,000.

According to the affidavit, on September 14th, at around 12:17 p.m, an individual contacted the FPS requesting assistance regarding a male individual who had allegedly assaulted two females inside a store. The police officers proceeded to the call and upon arrival at the scene at around 12:38 p.m., they met with an unknown female (later identified as the reporter/ victim #2), who briefly explained about what happened.

Both females or victims involved in the incident led the officers into the store where the cashier showed the authorities the camera footage of the incident. After reviewing the footage, one of the officers took a video of the footage on her cell phone. At the same time, both victims were questioned if they had any injuries but they notified the officers that they didn’t. They were also asked if they needed any medical assistance but they both refused.

According to victim #1, she was standing in front of the cashier but was shocked when someone grabbed her head from behind and kissed her on the left check. She stated she pushed the suspect away.

The suspect did the same thing to the second victim. However, victim #2 punched the suspect in defense to try and get him off, but he pulled her hair and punched her from behind her head several times. Fortunately, one of the employees and the cashier stepped in and stopped the unknown suspect.

According to victim #2’s verbal statement, as she was heading with her shopping near the counter, she saw the unknown male kissing the girl standing in front of the cashier. Furthermore, the unknown male then walked towards her and grabbed her by the head in an attempt to kiss her too but she pushed him away and punched him once in defense. The unknown male then punched her head and face from behind several times. One of the store employees and cashier then stepped in and stopped the suspect from what he was doing.

She then contacted the FPS for assistance regarding the incident.

The officers tried to locate the suspect near the area but were unable to locate him.

On the same date at around 4:04 p.m., the officers tried to locate the suspect again. While approaching the same store, they observed the mentioned suspect seen on camera sitting in front of the store. Upon arrival, they notified him to come with them to the FPS regarding the incident. The suspect was placed inside the police unit and transported to the FPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station around 4:58 p.m., the authorities contacted the suspect’s mother to notify her about her son being taken to the FPS.

Daniel Lauama was booked at the FPS and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined while awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 37-year-old U.S National.