Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 27, 2025, a young woman in distress called the police station and requested assistance after her boyfriend allegedly assaulted her in the presence of her children.

The suspect was arrested and later 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 imprisonment and fine;

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

Count 3, 4, & 5: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $3,000.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identities of the victim and the minors in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, on Aug. 27th, at around 11:58 a.m., authorities responded to the call regarding a distressed victim who stated that her boyfriend physically attacked her.

Police officers proceeded to serve the call, and upon arrival at the victim’s residence, they met up with the victim, who was observed with swollen reddish marks on both sides of her neck, but mainly on the right.

The victim directed the officers towards her room, where her boyfriend was lying on the floor. The suspect was immediately apprehended and placed inside the police unit while the officers interviewed the victim at the scene.

According to the victim’s verbal statement, “her boyfriend’s abusive behavior wasn’t a one-time thing.” The victim further briefed the officers regarding numerous past incidents where she claimed the suspect attacked her.

The victim briefly explained what happened during the current incident. She explained that she “fried pancakes for their three children and she made enough for three of them alone.” The suspect then came and asked their oldest son (four years old) if he could have some pancakes. The victim stated that the suspect ate the pancakes, one after another, until only a few were left.

Furthermore, her younger sister came and asked for a pancake, but she explained that the pancakes were actually for the kids. She told her sister that if she wanted some, she could make her own pancakes. However, despite instructing her sister, the suspect told her to go ahead and take some for herself.

Upon hearing this, she rebuked her boyfriend, pointing out that he does nothing but sleep and has no job. She continued that she went and sat down on the floor next to their 2-year-old when the suspect stood up in a fit of rage and shouted profanities at her, and approached her and punched her three times in the head while her child was in her arms. She curled her child in her arms as soon as the suspect approached and assaulted her.

She also stated that “the suspect went back to lie down, and she stood up and grabbed a stick, where she hit the kids’ laptop repeatedly out of anger.

In response, the suspect grabbed her from behind, where they scuffled until he put her in a headlock position. The victim informed the officers that she felt as if she was losing her ability to breathe due to the prolonged struggle. She claimed that the headlock lasted for about a minute. She stated that she vigorously tried to break away from the suspect’s grip until he picked her up by her waist and body slammed her on the concrete floor.

The victim claimed that the back of her head hit the floor, and the impact gave her a mild concussion and a minor lump behind her head. She then screamed, prompting her family members to intervene.

After the victim’s interview, her aunt approached the officers and told them that she heard the victim scream from her room, and she went to the victim’s and the suspect's room and took the children out because all three children were inside the room during the assault.

Both the victim and suspect were transported to the station in separate police units.

Upon arrival at the station, the suspect was Mirandized, in which he understood and agreed to make a statement regarding the incident.

According to the suspect, he admitted that they got into an argument over the children’s pancakes and that he yelled profanities at the victim. The suspect also admitted to holding the victim in a chokehold. However, the suspect claimed that during the scuffle, they both fell on the ground. He also mentioned that all three of their children were present during the time of the incident.

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

EMS officials arrived later and rendered aid to the victim, where she was advised to be taken to the LBJ Hospital regarding the lump on her head, but the victim declined.

The victim sustained a minor bump behind her head, swollen reddish marks on both sides of her neck, and also swollen marks on her left hand, behind her neck, and beneath her chin.

The defendant is identified as a 21-year-old, U.S. National.