Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 15, 2025, Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) received a call from a security guard at the hospital who stated that a nurse was allegedly assaulted by her husband while she was working.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace DIsturbance (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Mar. 15th, at about 12:13 p.m., FPS received a call from a security guard at the LBJ Hospital. The guard reported that they needed assistance regarding a female nurse who was allegedly assaulted by her husband while at work.

Police officers proceeded to serve the said call and upon arrival at the scene, they met up with a security guard (later identified as the reporter). The reporter explained that the Medical Ward contacted them when the suspect left the scene at around 6:00 p.m. The reporter then guided the officers to the room where the victim was and they interviewed her.

The victim stated that she and the suspect had been fighting for almost a week and it got to the point where he comes to her workplace and bothers her. The suspect also called her names and took her phone that he refused to return when she asked for it.

The victim identified the suspect as Vili Taufaina.

The victim stated that she didn’t have enough patience when the suspect called her names and refused to leave, and she tried to punch him, but missed. As a result, the suspect punched her in the face and they started fighting. The victim said that her coworker intervened and separated them. The suspect then threw her phone at the wall and yelled profanities in Samoan at her.

The victim explained that the suspect then left. It was later that she felt a pain in her left eye and a scratch on her arm. The victim was transported to the FPS for further investigation along with her co-worker who was a witness.

After the investigation was completed at the station, the victim was later admitted to the hospital for further treatment for her injuries.

The officers proceeded to locate the suspect’s residence but couldn’t find him. However, at around 8:12 p.m., the victim informed the officers that the suspect was at his house. The officers were able to finally locate him and apprehended him immediately, transporting him to the station for further investigation.

The suspect was Mirandized to which he understood and agreed to make a statement. After his statement, he was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The affidavit does not include an account of the suspect’s statement.