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Senate Sgt at Arms arrested after alleged assault at Taxi Stand

American Samoa District Court building
His two sons were also taken into custody
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A fight at the Fagaima Taxi Stand last week landed a man and his two sons in court after they were arrested and charged with assaulting a man working as a dispatcher for the taxi stand.

The man, Akeli Alosio, employed as the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms at the Fono, made his initial appearance in court last week.

His two sons (one is a juvenile) are charged by the government separately.

Alosio is charged with one count of 2nd degree assault, a class D felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

Bail is set at $5,000 and Alosio is set to appear in District Court tomorrow for his preliminary hearing.

THE CASE

On June 1st, 2021 at 2:43p.m, Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a woman regarding a disturbance in Fagaima. Several police officers responded to the call and met up with the woman who reported the incident.

When questioned about what happened, the reporter verbally stated to officers that she was in the house (close to the Fagaima Taxi Stand) when her 16-year-old daughter came running towards her and informed her that a man was being assaulted, allegedly by three unknown male individuals. The reporter did not waste any time, but contacted the TPS for police assistance.

Officers interviewed other eye-witnesses regarding the alleged assault. One witness told officers that while he was standing on the right side of the Fagaima taxi stand, he saw two men and it looked like they were fighting. Suddenly, he saw two young men arrive at the scene and help the man who was holding a baseball bat allegedly beating another man who was on the ground.

Another witness told officers that she was in the house, which it was close to the taxi stand in Fagaima when she heard a disturbance outside her house, when she came out she saw three unknown male individuals on top of her uncle allegedly punching and swearing at him.

Another eye-witness told officer that he was walking on the road when he saw the defendant, Alosio allegedly strike the victim with a baseball bat before he punched him. Suddenly, two other young male individuals came up and assisted the defendant in assaulting the victim. The three unknown male individuals were later identified as Akeli Alosio, Mila Osa and a 17-year-old juvenile. According to the witness, that’s when she ran inside the house and told her parents about the matter.

After interviewing witnesses, officers questioned the victim in this case who was at the scene after the alleged assault. According to the victim’s verbal statement to officers, he was working as a dispatcher for their taxi stand in Fagaima, he verbally stated that he was joking around with Alosio and other taxi drivers on the taxi stand radio and he thought that Alosio was joking back. He stated to officers that they usually joke with each other on the taxi stand radio.

But he was shocked when Alosio walked towards him with a baseball bat and allegedly struck him three times, once on his arm and twice on his body area. The victim said he wasn’t ready for what happened because he was sitting in the chair doing his job as a dispatcher when Alosio approached him with the baseball bat.

The victim tried to stand up and rush out of the taxi stand in an effort to avoid Alosio as he continued to strike him with the baseball bat, however, he (defendant) kept coming at him throwing punches that caused him to fall down.

The victim further stated to officers that when he fell down on the ground, Alosio was joined by his two sons and they continued the assault by punching him and kicking him. He shouted out to Alosio and his two sons to please stop but they allegedly continued to assault him.

The victim was later transported to the TPS for medical assistance and further questioning.

Officers then proceeded to the house of the defendant and his two sons in an effort to get their side of the story about what allegedly happened. Officers met up with the defendant and his sons at their residence in Fagaima, not far from the area where the assault took place, and informed them to stop by the TPS to discuss the matter.

Alosio was Mirandized and he informed officers that he understands his rights and refused to sign or answer any question or make a written statement about the matter.

Alosio’s son, Osa was also Mirandized and he informed officers that he understands his rights and he wished to make a statement about what happened.

According to Osa’s verbal statement, he was getting ready for work when he heard his younger brother calling out to him saying that their dad was involved in a fight outside their house. Osa told officers he came running outside when he saw random people trying to separate his father from the victim. He also verbally stated that he and his younger brother couldn’t stand by while their dad (Akeli Alosio) was fighting, so they jumped in and started punching the victim who was causing trouble with their dad. After the incident, their dad chased him and his younger brother home.

When asked by officers if he assaulted the victim, Osa said yes, he threw punches at the victim’s facial area and body while the victim was on the ground. He further admitted that his younger brother also threw punches as well while the victim was lying on the ground.

The juvenile was also questioned by officers regarding what happened while his father (defendant) was present. He agreed to answer questions from officers after he was Mirandized.

According to the juvenile’s verbal statement to officers, he heard his dad rushing to go somewhere, and he followed him with his older brother Osa. He then saw that his dad was being separated from the victim by other men and it seems like they got into a fight. So, he didn’t think twice. He called out to his older brother Osa and they both ran towards the location where the victim was and assaulted him.

The juvenile admitted that he punched the victim in the facial area and body while he was lying on the ground.

According to the court affidavits, Alosio, along with his two sons, Osa and the 17-year-old juvenile were later booked and confined at TCF after being interviewed about what happened.