Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 25, 2025, a man called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and requested assistance regarding a victim in need of help after she had jumped out of a moving vehicle.

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, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Second Degree (DV), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $30,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Aug. 25th, at around 11:00 p.m., a man (the reporter) called the TPS to report a woman (the victim) who had jumped out of a moving vehicle, after being stabbed.

Police officers responded to the call and, upon arrival near the Misa Store in Iliili, they made initial contact with the victim and reporter.

The victim was observed limping while her right leg was bleeding and she was crying out in pain. The victim also sustained bruising on her chin, a cut on her left forearm, minor scratches on her right arm, and a laceration on her right leg.

The authorities contacted the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the victim was transported to the LBJ hospital upon arrival of the EMS.

The officers interviewed the reporter, and he verbally stated that “he was walking home when he heard a female voice crying, coming from behind the bus stop.”

He walked over to the bus stop, and the victim was on the ground leaning against the bus stop. He further explained that he saw the victim was bleeding and she requested that he contact the EMS. He helped the victim up and walked her to the other side of the road to wait for the EMS and for the police to arrive.

The reporter told the officers that the victim had told him that she was assaulted by her husband and was left by the roadside.

The suspect was identified as Mr. Tanu Taimaaiono, and he was driving a black truck. Traffic officers patrolled the roads to locate the suspect, and he was observed in front of a laundromat in Nu’uuli.

The authorities approached Taimaaiono, apprehended him, and transported him to the TPS for further investigation.

As the suspect was being arrested, police officers spotted blood splattered on the passenger side of the door, and a pair of scissors were seen under the driver’s side floor mat.

Upon arrival at the station, Taimaaiono was Mirandized, to which he understood and agreed to provide a statement and answer questions.

According to the suspect’s statement, “he didn’t do anything to his girlfriend (victim).” He claimed that they were on the road and the victim wanted to commit suicide, but he just kept driving.

Taimaaiono stated that his girlfriend started arguing with him, of which he did not want to be a part. The suspect also alleged that Lualima Taliu was inside the vehicle when his girlfriend was “getting rowdy in the vehicle”.

During the interview, the suspect kept complaining about his blood pressure. The EMS was contacted to treat the suspect, and he agreed to be taken into the hospital for further treatment. An officer was assigned to escort the suspect to the hospital.

The authorities followed up with the victim, who had been admitted to the hospital, where she briefly explained what had happened.

According to the victim, she and the suspect had a verbal argument inside the vehicle while they were on the road. The altercation escalated, and she punched the suspect. They went back and forth with punches when she was stabbed multiple times with a pair of scissors.

She stated that the last stab landed on her right knee, and that’s when she pulled out the scissors from her knee and jumped out of the vehicle. The victim also noted that when she jumped out of the vehicle, the suspect continued driving.

She then walked towards the bus stop while she was bleeding and in so much pain. Fortunately, a man (reporter) approached her at the bus stop, where she requested that he contact the EMS.

The victim informed the officers that it was only her and the suspect in the vehicle during the assault.

Later during the investigation, the officers were able to speak with Lualima Taliu, who the suspect mentioned was his main witness. According to Taliu, he was in Nuuuli the whole evening and was not with the suspect or the victim.

He explained that he walked in front of the laundromat, and the suspect’s vehicle was already parked. He stated that he was there when the police arrived and apprehended the suspect; and, he had no knowledge of what happened between the suspect and the victim.

Taliu also stated that he does not know why the suspect mentioned his name when he wasn’t present during the incident.

Taimaaiono was released from the hospital, where he was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined until his court appearance.

Authorities also spoke with the victim’s mother, who informed them that this isn’t the first time that Taimaaiono had assaulted her daughter. She requested that action be taken this time because she’s concerned for her daughter’s life and safety.

In addition, the mother said that “she knows this has happened a lot and the victim will try to protect the suspect.”

The suspect is identified as a 45-year-old U.S. national.