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Man charged in July 2020 for Nov. 2019 attempted burglary

Just say no to marijuana
He was doing neighbor’s yard work and identified
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The government has charged a 34-year-old man with unlawful possession of illegal drugs and for trying to break into a house in Ottoville in November of last year. Pulou Tagaloa made his initial appearance in court last week.

Tagaloa, who has a long criminal history, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, resisting arrest and attempted burglary in the second degree — all class D felonies, along with disturbing the public peace (PPD), a class B misdemeanor.

Tagaloa’s bond is set at $5,000.

If he posts bond, the court has ordered the usual restrictions, including not to set foot in the house he allegedly tried to break into and to not make any contact with the government's witnesses.

THE CASE

According to the government’s case, a man informed police about a male who tried to break into a house in Ottoville by throwing rocks at the back door and also side windows on the night of Nov. 26th, 2019 in an effort to gain entry into the house.

Several police officers responded to the call but were unable to locate the suspect. However, last month, the wife of the man who contacted police for the alleged burglary called the TPS on July 24th, around 6:24p.m, saying the man her husband saw trying to break into a house in November of last year was in sight.

When police arrived, this time the witness identified the defendant, who was with other young men cleaning the yard of their neighbor. Police approached Tagaloa and asked him if he could come with them to the station to discuss an important issue. However, Tagaloa pushed a police officer away and immediately turned and ran. A foot chase ensued but he was apprehended and transported to the TPS for questioning.

Prior to transportation, a body search was carried out during which police discovered a baggie containing green leaves inside Tagaloa’s right pocket. He told police that the marijuana found in his possession was from a friend who lives in Vaitogi.

When asked about the alleged incident where he attempted to break into a house in the village, Tagaloa said he doesn’t know anything about that case and he was never involved in any criminal behavior last year.

When asked why he ran away when police approached him, Tagaloa smiled and said, “Because I got some illegal stuff in my possession when police approached me.”