Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 3, 2024, a woman contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report a male individual who allegedly punched her vehicle’s windshield.

The defendant resisted arrest but was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Property Damage in the Second Degree, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for six months, a fine of $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $500.

According to the affidavit, on August 3rd, at about 8:00p.m, a female individual contacted the TPS to report a male individual had struck their vehicle’s windshield, damaging it.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival met up with the female individual (later identified as the victim).

She told police that she and her husband were looking for the mechanic shop in Iliiili. She explained that they (victim & her husband) saw a male individual walking towards their vehicle, and they thought it was the mechanic with which they were supposed to meet. However, the male individual (suspect) approached their vehicle and started yelling profanities and saying to get off his land.

The suspect then walked towards the driver’s side and punched the windshield severely damaging it. The victim stated she then backed up and called the police for assistance.

The officers approached the defendant and notified him that he would be taken into custody and transported to the TPS for processing.

The affidavit states that the defendant refused to be detained, noting that the “defendant flailed his arms when the [officers] tried to put cuffs on his hands, after he was told that he’s going to be taken into the station, he walked away saying no, he’s not going.”

As the officers tried to subdue the defendant he resisted arrest, and more officers had to assist in apprehending the defendant. When the defendant was finally apprehended, he was transported to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, the defendant was Mirandized and agreed to make a verbal statement.

According to the defendant, his land is private and no one was allowed on his land. So he did what he did because he was protecting his land.

The defendant was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined to await the next sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified in the affidavit as Pelefoti Sagapolutele, a 53-year-old U.S National.