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Man already facing drug charges allegedly found with meth during traffic stop

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of a blue truck that was pulled over by police two weeks ago for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is also being charged with unlawful possession of drugs.

David Tone, who has a pending drug case in High Court made his initial appearance in District Court two weeks ago.

Tone is charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a felony; and driving under the influence of alcohol, a class A misdemeanor.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE CASE

Around 1:10a.m on Feb. 10th, 2021, several officers patrolling in the Tafeta area witnessed a speeding vehicle heading west. The vehicle was pulled over in front of an Asian store in the area and the driver was identified as David Tone, who failed the field sobriety test and was immediately arrested for DUI.

Tone was transported to the Tafuna Substation for questioning and his vehicle was impounded. A body search netted a glass pipe (commonly used to smoke ice) containing a white crystalline substance inside his back pocket. The glass pipe bulb was cracked but police were still able to collect residue and test it. (The substance yielded positive results for meth).

Tone told police he was drinking with a friend in Malaeimi, where he was given the glass pipe containing meth. He said he smoked the glass pipe and then kept it on him.

Police also found in Tone’s possession, a bag that he said belonged to him, which contained two empty small green straws and empty stamp-sized baggies.

During his interview with police, Tone revealed that he has a pending case in High Court, in which he is charged with violating local drug laws.

FIRST CASE

Tone was arrested after armed detectives executed a search warrant on his home and vehicle in August 2018.

He was subsequently charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of methamphetamine; unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and unlawful possession of marijuana — all felonies.

Tone was released on a $25,000 surety bond and one of the conditions is that he remain law abiding. His trial is set for Jan. 21, 2022.