Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 10, 2024, a concerned neighbor contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report that his neighbor’s son was allegedly causing a disturbance in their neighborhood which led to an altercation with another family.

The suspect was apprehended after fleeing the scene and was arrested and charged with:

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

Count 2: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 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.

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

According to the affidavit, on October 10th, at about 5:50 a.m., a male individual contacted the TPS in need of assistance in regard to his neighbor’s son (suspect).

The reporter alleged that the suspect was disturbing the peace, by yelling out profanities in Samoan which alarmed their neighborhood. It was also reported that the suspect was holding a machete in his hand.

It was later revealed that this is not the first incident in which the suspect was involved. However, the officers claimed that the suspect would flee the scene and he continued to repeat the same offense ‘everyday’.

Upon arrival at the scene at about 6:15 a.m., the officers met with an unknown male individual who later identified himself as the reporter. He directed the officers to the suspect’s residence while other officers proceeded to locate the suspect and the unknown individual involved in the matter in the early morning. The officers were told by the reporter that the suspect had fled from his home.

At about 6:18 a.m., officers interviewed the reporter at the scene where he provided a detailed explanation of what happened earlier that morning.

The reporter verbally stated that he was at his house when he saw Raymond Puni yelling profanities in Samoan repeatedly while making his way home. Minutes later, he saw an unknown male individual along with a minor following behind the suspect. The unknown man then yelled out to the suspect and asked him “why was he disrespectful at his house”.

The suspect yelled back at the unknown man (later identified as the victim) and started throwing rocks at the victim. The reporter stated he made his way to the suspect’s residence and witnessed the suspect’s father between the suspect and the victim as he tried to stop what was going on.

The officers interviewed the suspect’s father, who said that he saw his son (suspect), the victim and the minor arguing outside their house. He made his way to where his son and the victim were arguing but the situation escalated fast — the suspect and the victim were throwing rocks at each other.

The officers were told that no one was hurt.

The suspect’s mother was also interviewed and she stated that they were sleeping when they heard loud noises coming from outside of their house and they found that it was their son and the victim both holding machetes and were swinging at each other. The mother said that she also saw both her son and the victim throwing rocks at each other.

After the interviews, the officers requested that the parents of the suspect contact the TPS if the suspect comes back home.

At about 7:00 a.m., the officers were waved down in front of a store where a male individual explained to the officers that he was the unknown man who got into the altercation with the suspect.

The man (victim) verbally stated that he was asleep with his family in their home, when he heard someone yelling out profanities in Samoan. He discovered that it was the suspect who was on his property and was being so disrespectful while his family was sleeping. The victim claimed that the suspect called him out and challenged him to a fist fight, and he refused and told the suspect to go home.

The victim explained that the suspect threw the machete that he was holding in his hand and walked out while yelling profanities at him. He then picked up the machete and followed behind the suspect along with his 13-year-old son. Upon arrival at the suspect’s residence, he placed the machete on the ground, however, the suspect wanted to fight him and started throwing rocks at him and his son.

At about 1:30 p.m., the suspect’s father contacted the TPS and informed them that his son was at his house. Police officers proceeded to locate the suspect.

At about 1:40 p.m., the suspect was apprehended and brought to the TPS for questioning. He was Mirandized and agreed to make a statement.

Puni did not admit to anything that happened earlier in the morning.

The suspect was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 23-year-old U.S National.