Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 9, 2025, a man was arrested after police responded to reports of a vehicle swerving across traffic lanes and nearly striking a pedestrian near the airport area.

Mr. Falelua Solomona was later apprehended and charged as follow:

Count 1: Felony Driving, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both; and,

Count 3: Careless Driving, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both.

Solomona was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit filed in the District Court on December 1, 2025, while officers were patrolling the Tafuna area heading west, on Nov. 9, 2025, they received a call from dispatch reporting a black vehicle traveling in the opposite direction near the airport gas station. The vehicle was reportedly swerving in and out of the eastbound lane and had nearly struck a pedestrian who was walking along the sidewalk.

Officers immediately responded to the call, activating emergency lights and sirens as they proceeded toward the reported location. While en route, officers observed a black vehicle matching the description of the offending vehicle traveling past the Argosy building and heading toward the Ottoville area.

Police were able to make contact with the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Upon approaching the driver in the vehicle, officers informed him of the reason for the stop. The driver was later identified as Falelua Solomona.

According to police, the driver admitted to consuming alcohol earlier in the evening, stating that he had consumed one can of beer. Officers reported detecting a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver’s breath and observed that his eyes were red and bloodshot. Officers also noted that the driver’s speech was slurred during the interaction.

The driver was asked if he would consent to performing field sobriety tests, to which he agreed. Prior to administering the tests, officers asked standard pre-sobriety questions, which the driver answered.

For safety reasons, the driver was transported to the Tafuna Police West Substation, where the field sobriety tests were conducted. Police reported that the driver failed all three components of the tests.

Following the failed sobriety tests, the driver was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of Alcohol. He was Mirandized at the time of arrest.

Police further reported that the driver was presented with the official implied consent form, which was read aloud to him. The driver stated that he understood the advisory and agreed to submit to a breathalyzer test.

The test resulted in a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) of 0.230 percent — nearly three times the legal limit.

The driver was subsequently booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he was held pending the next available sitting of the District Court.

Investigators later determined that the driver was also operating the vehicle while his driver’s license was suspended. Records indicated that the suspension stemmed from a prior conviction for DUI, with a 24-month suspension period that began on May 6, 2025.

Police continue to warn the public about the dangers of impaired driving, noting that alcohol-related incidents pose serious risks to pedestrians and other motorists, particularly during early morning hours when visibility and reaction times may already be reduced.

The case remains under review, and the defendant is expected to appear before the District Court to answer to the charges.

[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. ra]