Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 26, 2025, a victim of a domestic dispute called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that her husband allegedly assaulted her in front of their children.

The suspect fled the scene but was 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; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (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.

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

According to the court affidavit, on Jan. 26th, at around 12:18 a.m., a female individual (later identified as the victim) contacted the TPS to report that her husband (later identified as the suspect) assaulted her at her home.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they discovered that both the victim and suspect weren’t home. However, their 18-year-old daughter called out to the officers that her parents had just left the house and went in front of the Malaeimi Store.

The authorities proceeded to locate both victim and suspect when they were waved down by the victim in front of the store. The officers met with the victim and she was asked if she needed medical assistance, which she refused. The officers asked the victim about the whereabouts of the suspect whereas the victim pointed towards the bushes behind the store, saying that the suspect had fled into the bushes.

The victim provided a clear description of the suspect stating that he was wearing a black hoodie and black shorts. She also stated that he might’ve exited the bushes through the other side.

The officers advised the victim to return home and stay with her children while the officers tried to locate the suspect.

The officers did a complete patrol of the bushes located to the east side portion of the victim’s house and the area around it but the suspect was nowhere to be found.

The officers proceeded back to the victim’s residence and conducted a field interview of the victim. The victim refused to provide a written statement but agreed to provide a verbal statement.

According to the victim’s verbal statement, she came home and saw the suspect sleeping on her bed. She advised him to leave but he retaliated in anger, stood up and punched her in her face (right side) twice. He also strangled her using his left hand.

Her 18-year-old daughter intervened and tried to stop the suspect but he overpowered the both of them. The suspect then turned towards the victim and said that “I can go wherever I want, sleep with whomever I want, and you’ll still accept me!”

The victim stated that the suspect fled the scene before the officers arrived.

It was also noted in the affidavit that during the domestic dispute between the victim and the suspect, minors were present in the bedroom and were crying as they witnessed their mother being beaten.

With attempts to locate the suspect, the responding officers were unsuccessful. It was noted that this is a constant occurrence within the victim’s home and the suspect usually beats the victim when she fails to accommodate his needs.