Pago Pago, AMERICA SAMOA — A male passenger arrested for consuming alcohol while in an aiga bus last month is now charged with violating local drug laws after police allegedly found drugs in his possession. Vaalele Talalelei made his initial appearance in Court last month. He is represented by Assistant Public Defender Ryan Anderson, while prosecuting the case is Assistant Attorney General, Laura Garvey.

Talalelei is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000.

During his initial appearance, the defense attorney informed the court that his client requested a preliminary examination (PX).

THE CASE

On July 12, 2020, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a distress call from a female asking for police assistance regarding some male passengers who were consuming alcohol inside an aiga bus heading west on the Nu’uuli public highway.

The TPS relayed the report to units that were on the road and two units with several police officers inside responded and initiated a stop near an Asian store in Nu’uuli.

Upon conducting an inspection of the passengers, officers observed that there were four males in possession of open alcohol containers. The officers took them off the bus and handcuffed them.

One of the passengers was identified as Vaalele Talalelei, the defendant in this case. Before all the four passengers were transported to the TPS for further investigation, they were patted down, as per norm.

During the pat down, a police officer discovered a glass pipe containing white crystalline residue in Talalelei’s pocket. Talalelei and all passengers were transported to the TPS, and the bus was also impounded for further investigation.

The seized evidence- substance from Talalelei’s pants was tested and the results revealed the white crystalline substance tested positive for methamphetamine.

Talalelei was informed of his constitutional rights after which he told investigators that he understood his rights and wished to waive them and make a statement regarding the glass pipe found in his possession.

According to Talalelei’s statement to investigators, a friend of his (Talalelei could not remember by name) gave him the glass pipe. He further stated the friend handed him the pipe and told him “mea ga e pa ai au sikaili” (translation: do what you want to do with it),

PX

At the PX last week, the lead investigator told the court that it was during the body search of Talalelei that a glass pipe was discovered on him.

The defense attorney asked the witness why the aiga bus was pulled over by police in the first place. The witness told the court that police officers responded to a call from a concerned passenger who was on the same aiga bus with the defendant and other males, who allegedly were consuming alcohol inside the bus.

According to the passenger who reported the matter, Talalelei’s and other male individuals’ behavior inside the bus while consuming alcohol made her uncomfortable.

Talalelei’s case was bound over to the High Court for arraignment after Judge Patea was satisfied that the government had presented enough evidence to support their case against Talalelei.

Talalelei appeared in High Court last week for arraignment where he entered a not guilty plea to the charge against him.

Pretrial conference is scheduled next month.

SALOME WILLIE

The female driver of a vehicle pulled over by police two weeks ago in Fatu ma Futi for blacked out tail lights is now charged with violating local drug laws.

On July 3, 2020 about midnight, a vehicle was pulled over by traffic officers at Fatu ma Futi. Officers approached the driver of the vehicle, who was later identified as Salote Willie, the defendant in this matter. Willie was told the reason for the traffic stop.

According to the government, Willie did not possess a driver’s license nor did she have any sort of identification on her. She was told that the vehicle would be impounded at the Tafuna Substation because she don’t have any driver’s license.

A pat down was conducted at the scene on the driver by a female police officer, and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine was found in her pants pocket. Also discovered was a small baggie containing methamphetamine.

The case was then transferred to the DPS Vice and Narcotics/ K9 Unit to handle.

When asked about the glass pipe containing methamphetamine, Willie told investigators that she was on her way to drop off her cousin when her vehicle was pulled over by police. She also saw a glass pipe in the vehicle and she was so nervous and scared that she grabbed it and put it in her pants pocket.

Willie made her initial appearance in District Court last month. She is represented by public defender Ryan Anderson while prosecuting the case for the government is Laura Garvey.

Willie is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000.

During Willie’s initial proceedings, her defense attorney informed the court that the defendant wished to have a preliminary examination (PX).

PX

During the PX, the government’s only witness who is also the lead investigator in this case told the court that a glass pipe and a plastic baggie were found in the defendant’s possession during a pat down by officers in the early morning hours of July 4th.

Defense attorney, Anderson asked the witness why the police officers who initiated the traffic stop conducted a body search on his client. The witness told the court that this is their normal procedure when people are taken into police custody — they are searched for weapons and illegal drugs, not only for police officers’ safety but also their own safety.

Willie appeared in High Court two weeks ago for her arraignment where she entered a not guilty plea to the charge against her. Pretrial conference is scheduled for next month.