Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 23, 2024, a concerned mother contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) to report her older son who allegedly assaulted her younger son.

The suspect was later apprehended and 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.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

According to the affidavit, on September 23rd, at around 5:59 p.m., a female individual contacted the police station claiming that her older son Paulo Filemoni (suspect) was causing trouble.

Police officers responded to the call and were approached by a female and male while still in their police unit. The individuals later identified themselves as the reporter and victim. The reporter was interviewed first.

According to the reporter, they were in the house with her husband when they heard the suspect demanding money from his younger brother (victim).

She further stated that when the victim refused to give the suspect money, the suspect got mad and called the victim out of the house. When the victim came outside, the suspect punched him in the mouth and demanded money again. The reporter claimed that she heard the commotion and came outside to stop it.

The victim then reluctantly gave the suspect $20 and he (the suspect) left in a rush. The reporter explained that’s why they decided to call the police to arrest the suspect and to teach him a lesson. She (reporter) explained that the suspect “always beats up and demands money from the victim when he gets his paycheck every week.”

When the reporter was asked about her husband’s whereabouts, she stated he went to look for his son (suspect) after they contacted the police.

The affidavit also stated that the victim (younger brother) showed no visible injuries. The officers immediately asked the victim if he needed any medical assistance to which he declined and stated he was okay.

The victim was also interviewed and later provided a written statement.

According to the victim’s verbal and written statement, he had just got home from work in the evening. The suspect (older brother) approached him and asked him for money for food. He told his brother to let him give his check to their parents first. That’s when the suspect told him to come outside and punched him in the mouth two times before he fearfully gave the suspect $20.

Around the same time after interviewing the reporter and victim, a male approached the officers and identified himself as the victim and the suspect’s father.

He stated that he couldn’t find the suspect but he knows where he might be. Police told the victim and the suspect's parents to get inside the police unit so they could help point out the house they suspected the suspect might be in.

While looking for the suspect, the mother saw the suspect walking in front on the road and called out his name, but the suspect ignored his mother.

More officers were dispatched to assist and on the way, they saw the suspect and confronted him. The suspect did not seem to be drunk nor reek of alcohol, according to police.

The suspect aggressively yelled at his parents for calling the police, and agreed to go with police if his parents were coming with him, which they agreed to do.

Having agreed to go with officers and they were on their way to the police station, the suspect unexpectedly rushed in front of the passenger seat and tried to jump outside the passenger window to escape. One of the officers grabbed his leg until the other officers could hold him down.

The officers were able to pin the suspect down and cuffed him while he was resisting arrest. None of the officers sustained any serious physical injuries during the arrest, only minor scratches and bruises.

The suspect was later placed in the back of the police unit and transported to the FPS for booking.

The suspect was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 26-year-old citizen of Samoa.