Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 18, 2024, an individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report a male individual allegedly causing a disturbance.

Setu San 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.

The defendant’s bail was set at $500.

According to the affidavit, on September 18th, at about 12:08 a.m, the TPS received a call from a female individual reporting a male individual who had been causing a disturbance by yelling out profanities in Samoan and shouting out the Samoan war cry (fa’aūmu).

Police officers responded to the call and upon approaching the Alataua school, they observed pieces of bricks scattered on the main road. The authorities came across an unknown male (later identified as a witness) waving them down and he introduced himself. The male was trying to clear out the bricks from the road to make way for the police unit to get through. He then directed the officers to where the suspect went.

The officers continued driving down the road but the suspect wasn’t observed anywhere on the main road. The officers then stopped in front of the suspect’s residence and proceeded to locate him at his place of residence. The suspect’s house was canvassed by the authorities and he was found hiding under the bushes next to his house.

The suspect was apprehended and transported at the TPS for further investigation.

The officers also interviewed the witness and according to him, he was sitting inside his house and he heard a voice that sounded like a male voice yelling out profanities and the Samoan war cry non-stop. He then came out to see who it was and saw the suspect throwing bricks from a pile of bricks next to the school entrance onto the main road. He stated he came out and the suspect started running down the road towards his house.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the suspect was Mirandized and he agreed to make a statement to answer questions.

According to the suspect’s verbal statement, everything that has been reported is true. He continued to say he was drinking in front of the store and started yelling out profanities and shouting out the Samoan war cry. He then walked over to the school and threw six bricks from the pile of bricks onto the main road.

The suspect was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined until his court appearance.

The defendant is identified as a 31-year-old U.S National.