Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 16, 2024, a female individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation claiming her brother was causing a peace disturbance at home. The defendant allegedly shoved his sister when he accused her of throwing away his belongings.

The defendant was apprehended and later 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; and,

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

Bail of $500 has been set.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor who was a witness in this case.)

According to the affidavit, on July 16, at approximately 8:30 p.m, the TPS received a call from a female individual (later identified as the victim) reporting her brother (defendant) causing a peace disturbance and yelling profanities and throwing stuff inside the house while their mother was inside the house.

Responding to the call police officers met up at the scene with the victim, and conducted a field interview.

The victim stated that her brother (defendant) got mad because he couldn’t find his shoes. She explained that she tried to get the car keys from him so that she could bring her stuff out from the car. However, the victim claimed that her brother shoved her and she fell on the ground. That’s when she came outside and contacted the TPS for assistance regarding her brother.

The affidavit also stated that police officers interviewed a minor (witness) relative in the family. According to the witness, she stated that her aunty and uncle got into an argument. She further stated that her uncle got mad because he was trying to find his shoes and her aunty didn’t know where they were.

The witness explained that the defendant then got mad and started yelling profanities inside the house. She said that her uncle shoved her aunty to the ground when she was trying to get the car keys from her uncle.

Police officers apprehended the defendant and transported him to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the defendant was Mirandized and agreed to make a statement and answer questions regarding the incident.

According to the defendant, he got into an argument with his sister. He stated that he was looking for his shoes which he found out later that his sister had thrown away in the trash. That’s when he got mad and waited for her to come back.

He further stated that “when his sister got back home, he walked towards the kitchen and grabbed the car keys and told her that she’s not allowed to use his car anymore because of how she acted towards him”.

He then explained that when he was walking inside his room and about to close the door, his sister came rushing up and pushed the door back trying to force her way into his room to grab the car keys.

The defendant was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting in the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 35-year-old U. S National.