Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man with a warrant for violating conditions of his probation is now charged with violating local drug laws after drugs were allegedly found in his possession when he was arrested by a court marshal.

Christopher Patu appeared in District Court last month for his initial appearance where he waived his rights to a preliminary examination. He appeared in High Court two weeks ago for arraignment where he entered a not guilty plea to the single count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a felony.

Bail is set at $3,000 and Patu was remanded back to custody unable to post his bond.

THE ALLEGATION

About 8:a.m on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the Vice and Narcotics Unit (VNU) received a call from a court marshal regarding an individual detained at District Court who was alleged to be in possession of illegal drugs. Christopher Patu was later identified as the defendant in this matter.

Two vice and narcotics detectives met up with the court marshal who then briefed them of what happened. According to the court marshal’s statement to investigators, a warrant of arrest was issued for Patu for failing to comply with the court order to submit to random testing during the term of his probation.

The court marshal observed Patu riding his bike without a shirt and wearing a black fanny pack around his wrist in front of the Fagatogo Square. Another court marshal was also informed of the situation and both court marshals headed to the eastside of the Fagatogo Square building and immediately approached Patu. Patu, who took off running and a short pursuit ensued and he was apprehended.

Patu was then escorted to the vehicle with the black fanny pack around his wrist, however, he tried to remove it and give it to another man that was at the scene. The court marshal halted the exchange and Patu was transported to the Probation Office.

At the probation office, Patu was processed for confinement and upon inventory of his property, a medicine bottle was discovered inside the black fanny pack containing 28 colored cut-up straws filled with crystalline substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine (meth). Patu denied the items belonged to him.

He was then transported to the Fagatogo Central Police Station for further investigation, along with the evidence found at the scene.

At the Fagatogo Central Police Station, Patu was Mirandized where he acknowledged understanding his rights but refused to sign the form. He also refused to cooperate and wished to remain silent. He was then booked and transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) awaiting a court appearance.

SONNY LEFATIA

A man arrested for disturbing the public peace in Lepuapua after he chased a man he accused of stealing taro from his plantation with a rock, is now charged with unlawful possession of illegal drugs.

Sonny Lefatia, who made his initial appearance in District Court a few weeks ago is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years, a fine of not more than $20,000.

Bail is set at $3,000.

THE CASE

On August 26, 2022, the Leone Police Substation (LPS) received a phone call about two males causing a disturbance near the road in Lepuapua — where one male was chasing the other with what appeared to be a rock and they were heading towards the intersection to Taputimu village.

Police responded meeting up with a man later identified as Sonny Lefatia, who matched the description of the one of the men reported in the disturbance —  he was detained. Lefatia told officers that he was chasing the man who stole taro from his plantation.

It during the routine pat down that cops discovered a glass pipe containing a usable amount of crystalline substance inside Lefatia’s right pocket. Cops seized the item and contacted Vice and Narcotics Unit (VNU) to assist in the matter.

Lefatia was Mirandized and he acknowledged that he understood his rights but refused to make a statement. He was later transported to the TCF where he was booked and confined.

The white crystalline substance found inside the glass pipe was tested and revealed positive results for meth.

DEN SIO

A man arrested for disobeying the Government’s declaration during the COVID-19 enforcement is now charged with unlawful possession of illegal drugs.

Den Sio, who was arrested while walking on the road appeared in District Court for his initial appearance.

He was charged with unlawful possession of meth, a felony and his bail is set at $3,000.

The incident involving Sio happened on Apr. 30, 2022. Sio was apprehended after officers during a routine Government Declaration Enforcement patrol — around 2 a.m —  through the village of Futiga, observed him walking on the south side of the eastbound lane during curfew hours.

Before he was transported to the LPS, he was patted down for weapons or contraband and during a body search, officers discovered a cut-up straw containing white crystalline substance inside Sio’s left pocket.

The white crystalline substance was tested and yielded positive results for meth.