Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 19, 2025, a dispute over land in Futiga escalated into threats and physical confrontation, prompting police intervention. The dispute was between Tafa Satele and members of the Snow family.

Tafa Satele, the suspect, was charged with the following:

Count 1 & 3: Private Peace Disturbance - a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both such imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree - a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both such imprisonment and fine.

According to the affidavit filed in the District Court on Dec. 31st, at the time of the call, patrol officers were already in the field and were directed to respond.

While traveling along the dirt road leading toward the Futiga landfill, officers observed a black pickup truck exiting the area and signaling them to stop. The driver, Tafa Satele, was recognized by officers from prior encounters and was later identified as the suspect in the disturbance.

Officers instructed Tafa to proceed to the Leone Police Substation (LPS) to provide a statement regarding the incident, while officers continued to the reported location in an attempt to locate other individuals involved. Upon arrival, officers found no one present at the scene.

Dispatch later informed them that the victim was en route to the LPS to provide a statement. The suspect, however, failed to report to the station as directed.

The victim was later interviewed by officers and stated that he had been working on his family’s land in Futiga when the suspect approached him and demanded that he leave the property. The victim told officers that he believed the suspect had no authority to remove him from the land.

According to the victim, the suspect then returned to his vehicle and threatened him with what appeared to be a gun.

A witness who had been working alongside the victim provided a separate account of the incident. The witness stated that he and the victim were tending to their plantation when the suspect and several workers began removing rocks that marked the boundary of the land. When the victim confronted the suspect about the removal of the rocks, Tafa allegedly struck the victim on the left side of his face.

The witness stated that he did not observe a firearm during this confrontation.

The following day, Dec. 20th, officers were again dispatched to the same location in Futiga after receiving a report involving the same parties. This time, Tafa contacted police claiming that he and his workers were unable to leave the area because members of the Snow family had chained off the access road to the property.

Tafa also reported that his workers were being assaulted.

While responding to the call, officers observed Tafa running toward their patrol unit and requesting immediate assistance. He stated that members of the family were preventing him from leaving the property. Moments later, the suspect received a phone call and claimed that his workers were being attacked.

He guided officers to the area where his workers were located.

Upon arrival, officers observed Tafa yelling profanities and aggressively approaching a man from the Snow family. In the presence of officers, the suspect shouted obscenities and charged toward the individual in an apparent attempt to engage in a physical fight. Officers repeatedly instructed Tafa to return to his vehicle and calm down. Despite these commands, he continued attempting to advance toward the other party, “with intent to fight him”.

Officers made contact with the members of the Snow family and separated the parties to prevent further escalation. Both sides were escorted to the LPS for further investigation.

At the station, a Snow family member provided both verbal and written statements. He reported that he and his relatives had been working on their land when Tafa began shouting profanities at them and ordering them to leave the property.

He stated that he approached Tafa only to tell him to stop yelling and to avoid further conflict, and when he saw the police arrive, he ceased speaking and waited for officers to handle the situation.

The suspect’s workers were also questioned. They stated that they had not been assaulted and that no physical fight had occurred involving them. They explained that the conflict involved verbal arguments between the suspect and the Snow family members.

The suspect was advised of his constitutional rights upon arrival at the LPS. He refused to sign the rights form and declined to provide either a verbal or written statement regarding the incident.

A pat-down search of the suspect was conducted for officer safety. During the search, officers discovered a small black plastic toy gun in the suspect’s rear pocket.

An inventory search of the suspect’s vehicle was conducted in his presence. All items found inside and outside the vehicle were documented.

Following the investigation, the suspect was formally booked and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he was confined pending his next court appearance.

The defendant is identified as a 43-year-old US National.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]