Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 14, 2024, Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a male individual reporting that another male individual was threatening him and his coworker at their work site. The defendant, Tavita Tusalo’o, allegedly threatened to stab them if they didn't leave the premises.

Police officers responded and were also threatened by the defendant. A pursuit of the defendant ended when community members assisted the officers to detain the suspect.

Tuisalo’o was apprehended and later charged with the following:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, 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 $2,000.

According to the affidavit, the phone call to TPS by the reporter identified a male individual threatening his workers with a long stick that had a fishing hook attached at the end of the stick. The reporter stated that the male told them to leave the area before he stabs someone.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival in Futiga at the landfill, they met with the reporter later identified as victim #1.

Victim #1 briefly explained what had happened, claiming that at around 7:35 a.m, one of his co-workers (victim #2) approached a white vehicle that was parked outside the gate of their scale compound. Victim #2 told the defendant that if he needed to dispose of his trash then it had to be processed on the scale first.

According to victim #1, the defendant misunderstood what his co-worker said and “then he (defendant) did a burnout before coming outside of his vehicle with a stick that had a sharp metal end and shouted profanities,” adding that the defendant also threatened to stab someone if they didn’t leave the landfill immediately.

Victim #2 collaborated what Victim #1 reported to police, claiming that when he approached the driver to see if he needed assistance with his trash, the defendant got mad. He said the defendant came out of his vehicle and started swearing and telling them to leave.

He also said that when the defendant got out of his car, he saw the defendant holding a stick with a hook attached at the end. He admitted he was afraid when the defendant tried to hit him so he quickly walked back towards the office. And, while he was going back to the office, he could still hear the defendant allegedly yelling profanities and sounding the Samoan warrior cry (fa’aumu).

A witness also came forward and explained that he had witnessed from a distance Tuisalo’o “doing a burnout in front of the scale compound and throwing rocks at some of his coworkers.”

Victim #1 then pointed out where the defendant was, which was at the other side of the landfill.

The defendant was seen smashing his car’s front windshield so the officers kept a safe distance before approaching him.

When the officers attempted to make contact with the defendant, he threatened to hit them if they got any closer while holding a metal pipe in his right hand and rock in his left hand.

Police officers tried to de-escalate the situation however the defendant allegedly walked towards them yelling profanities, and told them to get away from the scene.

The officers then went back to the unit and requested assistance on the matter.

While police were waiting for assistance, the defendant made his way towards the police unit still yelling profanities. He also threw a metal pipe at the police unit and missed, and then ran towards the unit.

The officers were forced to retreat, hoping for assistance to arrive, according to the affidavit.

As the police unit moved away from the defendant, several people were entering the landfill by car. Officers waved down the driver, instructing him to exit the landfill and retreat to a safe distance.

Tuisalo’o then ran towards a truck parked on the hill, stood beside the driver’s side window and attempted to punch the driver while holding rocks in both hands. The officers then tried to get his attention, but he turned around and chased three other people and threw rocks at them.

Failing to catch the the people, Tuisalo’o then noticed some American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) workers inside the compound. The defendant went towards them while continuing to throw rocks and any other objects he could find. As the defendant hurled rocks at the ASPA workers, the police officers moved closer and tried to suppress the situation. Seeing the police unit closing in, Tuisalo’o headed towards a pile of rocks and charged towards the officers.

Recognizing the threat to the public and the lack of backup, one of the officers used the police unit to shield themselves and the civilians.

While positioning the unit, Tuisalo’o was inadvertently impacted causing him to lose his footing, This gave the officers the opportunity to neutralize the threat and apprehended the defendant with the assistance of the ASPA employees.

The affidavit stated that as the officers and some of the ASPA workers were trying to detain the defendant, he refused to cooperate and started throwing his hands hitting one of the officers and an ASPA worker. However, officers were able to arrest Tusalo’o thanks to the help of the ASPA workers who stepped in and assisted in the apprehension.

Officers transported Tuisalo’o to the TPS and upon arrival at the station, the defendant was treated by the EMS on his injuries sustained from the matter.

The defendant requested to be taken to the ER for further treatments.

Tuisalo’o was admitted to the LBJ hospital at around 9:16 a.m and was seen by one of the physicians. At around 5:10 p.m, the physician stated that after a thorough examination of the defendant’s x-rays that Tuisalo’o had sustained minor scratches and aches to his body. There were no fractured bones or internal bleeding.

However, the doctor mentioned that the defendant tested positive for his drug test. Tuisalo’o was later transported to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, the defendant was Mirandized to which he understood and agreed to make a verbal statement and to answer questions.

Tuisalo’o stated that he had family issues that made him angry and that’s why he acted the way he did.

He was then booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 45 year-old citizen of Samoa.