Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 14, 2024, a male individual contacted the Tafuna Police Station (TPS) to report a male who allegedly assaulted him without reason.

Tufugafale Lolesio was later apprehended and charged with the following:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $300.

According to the affidavit, on July 14, at about 2:08 a.m, TPS received a call from a male individual (later identified as the victim) seeking assistance while being assaulted at the Flame’s Bar parking lot. The victim stated that a male individual punched him in the face without a reason, while he was heading there to pick up someone from the bar.

The victim explained that as he was making his way inside the parking lot, there was a vehicle blocking his way. He asked the driver if he could move his vehicle so that he could make his way inside the parking lot and that's when the male individual (suspect) walked towards him and punched him in the mouth without a reason.

The victim explained that is why he contacted the TPS for assistance.

At about 2:15 a.m, police officers responded to the call and upon arrival, the defendant had already left the scene and people yelled out that the suspect walked towards the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) compound.

The responding officers went to the ASPA compound where the victim pointed out where the suspect was. The officers apprehended Lolesio and placed him inside the police unit, which transported him to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the suspect was observed to be highly intoxicated.

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

The defendant is identified as a 49-year-old citizen of Samoa.