Ads by Google Ads by Google

Man picked up for PPD and attempted stealing — charged with felony marijuana use

Just say no to marijuana logo
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An intoxicated man who was picked up by cops two weeks ago and charged with three misdemeanors charges of public peace disturbance; resisting arrest and attempted stealing; was later charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a felony.

Minute Felise made his initial appearance in District Court last week.

Bail is set at $5,000.

According to the government's case, the alleged disturbance occurred in Mesepa. When police arrived, Felise had allegedly fled but was chased down by a male on the roadside. Cops arrived at the location where Felise and the man were arguing.

The government stated that Felise told police that his action was in self-defense after the victim punched him twice in the face. Cops noted that he had sustained a laceration on his right eyebrow.

As officers were speaking with Felise, a man arrived at the scene and identified himself to officers as the victim in the case. According to the victim, he was cleaning his vehicle when he saw Felise enter his house without permission. He immediately ran to his house and saw Felise standing inside the living room looking around.

When he asked Felise why he entered his house without permission, Felise did not say anything, he just turned around and walked outside. The victim said he asked Felise again why he came into his house. This time, Felise turned around and punched him in his left eye. So, he punched him back in his right eye, causing Felise to run away.

The victim’s brother who saw what happened chased Felise down and stopped him.

While officers were speaking to the victim, Felise immediately fled the scene and ran back to his house. He was later apprehended by cops.

According to investigators, Felise resisted when he was being handcuffed and he "attempted to flee but was blocked" by two officers.

Felise was transported to the hospital via ambulance and treated at the LBJ Emergency Room before he was taken into custody at the TCF.

Before Felise was transported to the hospital, a pat down was conducted per norm, and during the body search, police discovered a baggie containing two hand rolled cigarettes that looked like marijuana.

Felise waived reading of his rights and wished to make a statement about what happened.

According to the defendant, he went to the victim’s house to look for his little puppy which was stolen from his house two days ago. There was no one inside the house, so he decided to enter the house without permission. While standing inside the house, a man called out to him and told him to leave the house.

He was pissed off but continued to walk away from the house. While he was walking away, the victim called him out again and threatened to shoot him if he came back to his house.

Felise was upset, he turned around and punched the victim in the face. The victim punched him back and hit his eye. That was when he “ran for his life” after he noticed two men coming after him.

When asked about the two hand rolled marijuana joints found in his possession, Felise admitted that the illegal drugs belonged to him. He said he bought the drugs from a man who often walks on the road selling drugs.