Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 4th, 2025, a man contacted the police and requested assistance regarding a friend that was trying to break into his house after he told him to leave.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Trespass (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed six months, a fine of not more than $500.00 or less than $150.00, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300.00, or both.

There was no set bail for the defendant.

According to the court affidavit, on March 4th, at about 12:34 a.m., police officers arrived at the scene, after receiving a call from a distressed man. The man alleged that a friend was attempting to force his way inside his house after he clearly instructed his friend to leave.

While slowly approaching the victim’s residence, the officers observed a shirtless individual sitting in front of a vacant house. The individual (later identified as the victim) appeared to be heavily intoxicated but his identity was unknown at the time  due to his being unresponsive and evasive when asked a question.

The officers continued along the road until they reached a shirtless man in front of a yellow wooden house where the individual identified himself as the victim. The officers asked the victim what happened and according to the victim, he and the suspect lived together because the suspect did not have a place to stay.

The victim added that the suspect’s family disowned him which is why he provided him with a place to stay. The victim explained that he came home that night after being released from the hospital to find the suspect drunk and being disrespectful towards his friend on the phone.

The victim stated that the suspect was yelling profanities so he asked him to lower his voice but this angered the suspect. The suspect got furious and they got into a heated argument.

When he instructed the suspect to get out of his house and he barricaded the doors, the suspect attempted to pry open one of the kitchen window screens and the front door trying to regain entry and completely disregarded his instructions to leave.

The victim also claimed that the suspect was shouting and yelling profanities at  him at the same time and threatening to break his house windows and continuously yelling out the Samoan cry (fa’aūmu). Moreover, the suspect continued on with his chaotic behavior for several minutes which led him to call the police for assistance.

The officers apprehended the suspect and transported him to the Tafuna Correctional Facility.

The affidavit also noted that due to the victim’s residence being at the end of the road and how late it was, the officers weren’t able to get a hold of any witnesses.

However, they were able to speak to one of the suspect’s family members who stayed around the area and they claimed that the suspect was heavily intoxicated and had come over to his house, but he told him to leave because it was really late at night.

The suspect’s identity was revealed by the victim to be Tuivale Faaivae, a 25-year-old citizen of Samoa.