Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 7, 2025, a man called the Leone Police Substation (LPS) to report his sister-in-law who allegedly assaulted him and his wife at church.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000.00, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Public Peace Disturbance (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.

There was no bail set for the defendant.

Court records indicated that on July 7, 2025 around 12:05 p.m., a man (later identified as victim #2) called the LPS and reported that his wife’s sister was allegedly causing a disturbance at their church in Puapua.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they met up with a woman (later identified as victim #1) who is victim #2’s wife. Victim #1 briefed the officers regarding the incident.

According to victim #1, she was sitting in church and her sister came and asked her why she didn’t pick up her and her children. She told her that she came to pick them up but was told by their father that she had already left the house.

Victim #2 noted that at the same time they were arguing, she noticed that her sister was drunk. She alleged that her sister also yelled profanities in Samoan at her in the church and that she took her outside to try to calm her down. However, her sister continued yelling profanities in front of the church.

Officers also met up with a man, who was later identified as victim #2. Victim #2 stated that he didn’t know anything about what was going on. He explained that he saw his wife and her sister having an argument outside of the church and he jumped in to try to make peace between them, but the suspect pulled his tie which choked him.

As a result, he slapped his sister-in-law (suspect) in an effort to release her hand from his tie so that he could breathe easily.

A witness was interviewed and stated that he was there when the suspect tried to choke victim #2 with his tie.

Authorities, in addition, received a report from a nearby family stating that there was a young woman at their house claiming she needed help. Police officers proceeded to the family’s home and upon arrival, they found the suspect at the house, and apprehended her. The suspect was transported to the LPS for further investigation.

During the time of transportation, police officers detected an odor of alcohol coming from the suspect.

Upon arrival at the station, the suspect was Mirandized to which she understood and refused to make a statement or answer questions.

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

The defendant is identified as a 33-year-old U.S National.