Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 22, 2026, Rocky Lavasi'i was arrested following an incident in Fagatogo village that authorities say involved disorderly behavior along a busy public roadway.

The suspect was later charged with Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of not more than $500, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, the incident occurred at approximately 10:40 p.m. near the Fagatogo Pavilion area. Officers assigned to patrol duties reported observing a man later identified as Lavasi'i walking along the sidewalk while yelling loudly and drawing the attention of nearby motorists and pedestrians.

Police alleged that Lavasi'i continued shouting while moving westbound along the main road, with his behavior appearing increasingly disruptive. This caused concern due to the late hour and the presence of vehicle traffic in the area.

The officers also observed Lavasi'i throw an object towards the roadway while vehicles were passing. Investigators later reported that the object came dangerously close to striking one of the vehicles traveling through the area.

Concerned that the situation could escalate or result in damage to property or injury to motorists, officers moved to intervene.

As officers approached, Lavasi'i allegedly began moving away from the area, which led to police pursuing him on foot. He was ordered him to stop.

Court records indicate that after officers made contact with him, Lavasi'i complied with instructions and allowed himself to be taken into custody without resistance.

Authorities reported that during the encounter they detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Lavasi'i. Based on their observations, officers believed he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

The defendant was subsequently escorted to the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) for processing and further investigation.

According to statements contained in the police affidavit, one of the officers involved recalled first noticing Lavasi'i while standing outside the police station. Initially, the officer did not view the individual as a concern. However, after observing his conduct and hearing him repeatedly shouting at passing vehicles, the officer began monitoring the situation more closely.

A second officer provided a similar account of the incident, with both officers stating they observed behavior they believed posed a risk to motorists using the roadway, which included Lavasi’i throwing an object at passing traffic — that necessitated immediate action to prevent potential harm.

Following Lavasi'i's arrest, officers returned to the area where they believed the object had landed, and reportedly located and recovered an unopened beer can from the roadway. The can displayed damage consistent with having struck a hard surface.

Officers observed a small amount of liquid remaining inside the container and additional liquid on the surrounding pavement.

Investigators documented the recovered item as part of their case and included it in the evidence collected during the incident.

Court documents further indicated that another individual was present in the area at the time of the arrest and informed officers that he had been attempting to locate Lavasi'i before police intervened.

Lavasi'i was transported to the FPS, where he was formally booked and was transferred to the Tafuna Correctional Facility pending his appearance before the District Court.

The case has since been forwarded for judicial review.

The defendant is identified as a 25-year-old citizen of Samoa.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on May 26, 2026

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision.]