Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 2, 2024, a concerned neighbor called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report an alleged disturbance next to her house.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both;

Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree ( As a C Misd.) (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300. but not less than $150, or both; and,

Count 4: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (DV), 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 $10,000.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor involved in this case.)

According to the affidavit, on November 2nd, at around 8:16 p.m., a concerned neighbor contacted the TPS to report a disturbance at a family member’s home located next to hers. She informed the authorities that the suspect was intoxicated and wielding a machete while approaching his mother’s house.

The officers responded to the incident and upon arrival spotted the suspect in front of a restaurant where he was immediately apprehended and placed inside the police unit. The suspect was subsequently transported to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the scene about 8:40 p.m., the officers approached the reporter and inquired about the call. The reporter stated that she was not present at the time of the incident but she heard the suspect yelling out profanities in Samoan. The reporter also mentioned that it was a family member who called her to contact the police for help.

At about 8:46 p.m., the authorities approached a 15-year-old minor, identified also as another victim in the case.

This victim stated that her uncle verbally threatened her father by saying “he was going to come and cut his father’s throat with the machete” while holding the machete. She continued that the suspect later walked towards their house and used the machete to scrape against the outside of their house.

The victim explained that she was standing behind her father when she saw her uncle who was standing outside the house with a machete. The suspect swung the machete twice to scare her father but the third time he swung, the machete went through the window where her father was standing inside of their house.

Fortunately, her father moved and the machete missed him. However, the victim claimed the machete almost hit her because she was standing behind her father.

Later, the victim yelled out profanities in Samoan towards her father repeatedly.

The officers later approached an elderly female (later identified as the suspect’s mother) who was in the house. The suspect’s mother briefed the officers regarding the incident.

According to the mother of the suspect, she verbally stated that the suspect is her son. She explained that he came by her house and yelled out loudly and “said bad words while she was in the house”. The mother also mentioned that the suspect disturbed the peace and swung a machete at the back of the house towards the screen wire.

The mother cried and stated she did not want the suspect to stay with them or be near the family because this is not the first time he had done this. The mother requested for the suspect to not be near her and her residence.

At about 8:50 p.m., officers met up with another victim (victim #2) where he briefed the authorities concerning the matter. The victim stated that the suspect threatened to cut him up with the machete several times. The suspect also swung the machete three times towards him while trying to scare him but the third time he swung, the machete came through the window. The victim explained that the machete tore the screen wire as it flew towards him. Luckily, he dodged the machete but it almost hit his 15 year-old daughter who was standing behind him.

The victim also requested for the suspect not to return to their residence and not to be near him and his family.

After conducting field interviews with the victims and the reporter, the officers proceed to locate the machete but were unsuccessful.

Upon their return to the TPS, the officers Mirandized the suspect where he agreed to make a statement and to be questioned without a lawyer.

The suspect briefed the authorities concerning the matter. He admitted that he threatened victim #2 with a machete and yelled profanities towards him. The suspect claimed that there has been an ongoing issue between him, victim #2 and the sister because ever since they lived at his mother’s house they have been acting like the house belongs to them.

The suspect was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined while awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 46-year-old U.S. National.