Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man was arrested by police in Ottoville after he went into his wife’s and children’s house with a machete in his hand.

The defendant made his initial appearance in court last month.

He’s charged with private peace disturbance and 3rd-degree assault.

Bail is set at $1,500.

The government claims that on Feb. 6, 2022, a female contacted TPS to report that the defendant in this case was outside of their house but there is a restraining order against him.

A police sergeant, along with two police trainees responded to the reported domestic violence case in Ottoville and observed the defendant sitting on the stairs at the victims’ house. When police approached the defendant, he walked over to the house and struck the windows with a machete.

The police sergeant then grabbed a wooden board from the bottom of the stairs for his safety as well as the safety of everyone present at the scene.

The defendant yelled at the victim asking why she had to contact the police. Officers intervened and advised the defendant to remove the machete from his hand which the defendant did. He was apprehended and placed in a police unit and transported to TPS for further investigation.

Police spoke to the defendant’s spouse, who is the victim in this case, regarding the alleged incident. She told police that she and her children had just arrived at their home when she saw the defendant approaching them with a machete. She quickly closed and locked the door to keep him from entering their house and to prevent him from harming her family.

The victim was scared for herself as well as for her children (12 and 18 yrs old). The defendant demanded that she open the door and that was when she called the police for help. The defendant also threatened to cut himself with the machete and end his life.

Furthermore, the victim stated to police that she and the defendant are in the process of a divorce. She filed for protection and a restraining order against the defendant but he continues to harass them and break into her home.

The victim also said she is living in fear that one day the defendant will attack her and their children. A majority of the time, she said she fears to go home because the defendant shows up uninvited filled with rage and anger.

The victim also provided the valid protection order.

BACKGROUND

In 2015, the defendant was placed on probation for 12 months after being convicted of assaulting his wife, the same victim in this new case.