Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 13, 2026, a family member contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that a man was allegedly causing a disturbance at their home. 

The suspect was apprehended and later charged with Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of not more than $500, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant was held without bail.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of the individuals involved to protect the identities of the minors.)

According to the court affidavit, at approximately 2:46 p.m., the TPS received a report concerning a male individual who was allegedly causing a disturbance at a residence in Malaeimi. It was later that the male was identified as the brother of the reporter/ caller.

Police officers immediately responded to the call and upon arrival, officers were reportedly flagged down by the caller who made the report, who pointed at the suspect as he walked around the outside of the home.

Officers approached the suspect and clearly announced their presence. However, the suspect did not comply with the officers' verbal commands and continued walking away from them towards a garage structure.

As the suspect approached the garage, he was reportedly reaching for a backpack. The officers stated that, because they did not know what was inside the backpack, they intervened for officer safety and physically prevented him from reaching it.

The suspect began resisting the officers efforts until police were able to eventually handcuff him and then place him inside the police unit.

After he was secured, the officers remained at the residence to gather information about what had allegedly occurred before their arrival.

The person who reported the incident told police that she and her family had recently arrived home with a new refrigerator. She said that they asked her brother (suspect) to help carry the refrigerator into the house. However, instead of assisting, he allegedly became angry and began yelling profanity at her.

The situation reportedly continued after their mother intervened. According to the statement provided to police, Amituana'i also directed profanity at his mother. He also accused his mother for not giving him money.

Police were further told that the suspect then began throwing items around the residence.

The alleged behavior reportedly occurred while children were inside the home. The reporter told the officers that she was concerned about the effect of the suspect’s behavior on her children and feared that the situation could eventually become physical.

The reporter further stated that the incident was allegedly not an isolated occurrence. She stated that the suspect had previously become upset and thrown items inside the residence while their mother and her children were present.

The reporter alleged that the suspect gets upset and causes trouble at the residence when he uses drugs. Furthermore, she expressed concern that the suspect’s continued behavior could result in him assaulting the children, stating that he had allegedly assaulted them in the past.

After gathering the initial information at the residence, officers transported the suspect to the TPS for further investigation.

Police also asked the reporter to bring her mother to the station so officers could obtain an additional statement regarding the incident.

At approximately 3:24 p.m., the suspect was Mirandized but refused to provide a written statement regarding the reported disturbance.

The reporter later arrived with her mother. Prior to their coming to TPS, she informed the authorities that her mother needed to be assessed by Emergency Medical Services because she is diabetic and suffers from hypertension. 

EMS was contacted and arrived at the station at approximately 3:43 p.m. EMS personnel evaluated the woman and reported that her vital signs were stable and within normal limits.

She was nevertheless advised to seek further medical evaluation at LBJ Hospital if her condition worsened or if she continued to feel unwell.

Police subsequently interviewed the suspect’s mother about the reported disturbance.

During her interview, she reportedly told officers that she did not want the suspect to return to her residence in Malaeimi and did not want him anywhere near her because she was afraid of him.

According to the affidavit, much of the mother’s statement corroborated the information previously provided by the reporter regarding the suspect’s alleged behavior during the disturbance.

Following the investigation, police booked the suspect and confined him at the Tafuna Correctional Facility awaiting his appearance at the District Court.

‘The affidavit was filed in the District Court on August 14, 2026.

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[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.]