Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 25, 2024, a female individual contacted a police officer asking for assistance regarding an alleged peace disturbance and assault incident.

The suspect was apprehended and later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment by fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree ( As a C Misd.), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment by fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 3: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $2,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 25th, at about 10:49 a.m., an individual contacted a police officer and stated that they need help regarding a male who was allegedly constantly harassing their establishment.

Police officers were able to identify the individual as Iopu Loe (suspect).

The reporter alleged that the suspect was causing a disturbance inside their establishment, the Shining Star Store by loudly screaming profanities.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at around 11:01 a.m., they met with an unknown female (later identified as the reporter) inside the store. The reporter briefly explained everything that happened to the officers and told them that the suspect was drunk during the incident.

At the same time, she showed the officers the camera footage where the officers observed the suspect. According to the reporter’s verbal statement, “the suspect has been banned from the store due to his behavior of always damaging things inside the store and causing trouble.”

She continued that on the date of the incident, the suspect unexpectedly came into the store drunk and started threatening her by saying “he will pour hot water on her if she doesn’t treat him nicely.” The suspect continued to loudly scream out profanities in Samoan several times and saying that he is not a thief.

He also lifted the water boiler with hot water inside over her head and threatened to pour it on her, in which she moved away and told him to put it down.

She then contacted the police officer for assistance and the suspect left when he realized that police were on their way.

The officer asked the reporter for the suspect’s whereabouts where she explained that he went outside and proceeded to the back of their store. The officers immediately proceeded to locate the suspect.

While walking to the back of the store, the officers observed the suspect sitting at the back of a Samoan kitchen (ūmu) with two other males. While approaching the suspect, the officers observed a can of beer in his hand and he had red bloodshot eyes.

The suspect was informed that they will be escorting him to the FPS regarding a case involving him.

However, he stood up, swaying and kept denying that he didn’t do anything wrong while trying to walk away from the officers. Officers detected a strong alcoholic odor emitting from his breath.

The officers held him and tried to place handcuffs on him but he resisted arrest by forcefully pulling his hands to the front. The officers eventually managed to cuff and apprehend him. He was placed in a police unit and transported to the station for the booking process.

The suspect was booked at the FPS and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 29-year-old U.S National.