Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man arrested for disturbing the public peace in front of a store in the Tafuna area is now charged with violating local drug laws.

Amosi Tevita made his initial appearance in District Court last week.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, an unclassified felony, punishable by imprisonment from 5-10 year, a fine of up to $20,000, or both, along with one count of 3rd degree assault, one count of public peace disturbance (PPD) and one count of property damage in the 3rd degree, all misdemeanors

Acting Associate Justice Elvis P. Patea set bail at $10,000.

Preliminary examination is scheduled for Thursday, next week at 1p.m.

THE CASE

According to the court affidavit, it was around 11:35p.m on Friday night, Aug. 28, 2020 when the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a phone call from a woman seeking police assistance regarding young men drinking and fighting in front of a store in Tafuna. The caller further stated that the young males allegedly yelled profanities and threw beer bottles on the sidewalk, and one person was lying on the ground.

Several police officers responded and observed a young male sitting in front of a blue pickup parked in front of a store, while the other male was lying on the ground not far from the location where a crowd of people were standing. The young male lying on the ground appeared to be injured, blood streaming down from his face (right eye) and head.

The male standing in front of the blue pickup was later identified as Amosi Tevita, the defendant in this matter. Tevita was later identified by bystanders from around the area as a local ‘meth’ boy from the neighborhood. The defendant had also sustained minor injuries to his face and shoulder.

The defendant and the male individual (victim) lying on the ground were treated by EMS personnel at the TPS, before they were transported to the LBJ Hospital for further treatment.

Before the defendant was transported to the LBJ, police conducted a body search and a stamp size baggie with white crystalline substance residue was discovered in his pants pocket. The white crystalline substance was tested and confirmed positive for methamphetamine.

The defendant was then transported to the LBJ Hospital for treatment and discharged early morning the next day.

Around 10:50p.m on July 5th, two days after the defendant was arrested, investigators questioned him at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) regarding the stamp-sized baggie they had found on him on the night in question when he was assaulted by some unknown male individuals.

After being informed of his Constitutional rights, the defendant stated that he understood and wished to make a statement.

According to the defendant’s statement, he was at his friend’s party on the night of the incident and when he left to go home he got beat up by people he doesn’t know. He was drunk and decided to do a stupid move and “Faaumu” (Samoan war cry). He also admits that he assaulted one of the young males who assaulted him by striking his facial area and head with a beer bottle causing injuries to the victim.

He further stated that as he assaulted the victim, something fell from the victim’s pocket. He picked up the object and noticed that it was a cell phone. He then damaged the cell phone by throwing it down on the road.

According to the defendant’s statement to investigators, the methamphetamine found inside his pocket was not even his. He stated he was shocked when the police said they found it in his pants.

Police interviewed the victim two days after he was discharged from the LBJ Hospital. The victim told police that Tevita assaulted him by striking his head and face with an empty beer bottle. Tevita also damaged his cell phone.