Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 7, 2026, a victim of a domestic dispute contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report that she was allegedly assaulted by her husband in the presence of their children.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not more than $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

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

According to the court affidavit, police responding to the call were flagged down by the victim near the KT Mart parking lot. The victim appeared visibly distressed as she approached officers and began explaining the incident that had occurred.

According to the victim’s statement, the incident began earlier in the day when her husband picked her up from work. The couple then traveled to a nearby area in Nuuuli to visit a relative before returning home. During the drive back, an argument began inside the vehicle and gradually escalated in intensity.

The victim stated that during the argument, her husband became verbally abusive, accusing her of being unfaithful. Tensions continued to rise, and the victim stated that she felt increasingly unsafe but remained in the vehicle as they approached their residence.

Upon arriving at their home, the situation escalated further. As the victim attempted to exit the vehicle, her husband allegedly grabbed her shirt near the neck area and applied pressure in a manner that made it difficult for her to move freely. The victim described the act as an attempt to choke her while she was trying to leave the vehicle.

At the time of the incident, their children were present inside the vehicle and witnessed the altercation. One of the children intervened by physically removing her father’s hand from her mother’s neck area, allowing her mother to break free and leave the vehicle and seek help from the police.

She reported that her husband followed her in his vehicle and remained in the nearby area, which heightened her concern for her safety.

Responding officers assessed the victim at the scene. While no visible injuries were observed, officers noted that she appeared shaken and emotionally distressed. She informed officers that this was not the first time such an incident had occurred, stating that similar situations had taken place in the past, particularly when her husband had been consuming alcohol.

The victim directed officers to the location where her husband was parked. Officers made contact with the suspect and began questioning him regarding the reported incident. The suspect denied that any physical altercation had taken place.

Despite the denial, officers observed signs indicating that the suspect may have been under the influence of alcohol, including a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath and clothing.

At that point, officers made the decision to apprehend the suspect for further investigation.

Both the victim and the suspect were transported to the TPS, and were separately interviewed about the incident.

Due to the involvement of minors, the TPS dispatcher contacted Social Services to report the situation. Officers also coordinated efforts to ensure the safety of the children, who were still at the residence. Police later returned to the home with the mother to bring the remaining children to the station.

Statements were obtained from one of the minors who witnessed the incident. The minor confirmed what her mother had stated about the incident. She also stated that her younger siblings were frightened and began crying during the incident.

At the station, the suspect was advised of his constitutional rights. He acknowledged his rights, and declined to provide a statement to investigators.

Following the investigation, the suspect was formally booked and later confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility pending his initial court appearance.

A representative from Social Services arrived at the station and conducted interviews with the victim and the children. Due to concerns for their safety, arrangements were made to place the victim and her children in a temporary shelter.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect was intoxicated at the time of the incident and that the argument stemmed from accusations of infidelity. Authorities also noted that the victim reported prior incidents of a similar nature, indicating a pattern of behavior when alcohol was involved.

The case remains under investigation.

The defendant is identified as a 37-year-old citizen of Samoa.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 9, 2026.

[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. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court.]