Tip from a rental car owner results in a woman getting arrested for meth possession
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A woman who was convicted of public peace disturbance two years ago after she pointed a .45 caliber pistol at three men who were picking up trash along the Amouli roadside has been arrested for unlawful drug possession.
Christina Malauulu made her initial appearance before District Court Judge Elvis P. Patea last week. She is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a felony punishable by imprisonment between 5-10 years, a fine between $5,000-$10,000 or both.
If she posts bond, Malauulu is to remain law abiding, not leave or attempt to leave the territory, and she is not to make any direct or indirect contact with the government’s witnesses.
THE CASE
According to the government, the owner of a rental car company had tipped off police, voicing his suspicions that a woman using one of his rental vehicles is engaged in illegal activities.
Police were provided with the name of the driver — allegedly under police surveillance for some time, on assumptions that she is connected to a male inmate accused of escaping from confinement and shooting a man in Leone two years ago.
When Malauulu was pulled over by police, a search of the vehicle was conducted and clear plastic baggies containing a white substance were allegedly discovered inside.
Malauulu was arrested, interviewed, and subsequently taken into custody at the TCF.
BACKGROUND
Malauulu, a.k.a Chrissy was sentenced to 6 months probation by the District Court in 2017, after she pled guilty to public peace disturbance, a class B misdemeanor.
Malauulu had pointed a “pistol” towards three men, who told police that while they were collecting trash along the roadside, Malauulu stopped her car, rolled down the window, and pointed a gun at them. Malauulu was upset because one of the men had allegedly been spreading rumors about her daughter.
Police had recovered a .45 caliber pistol in Malauulu’s vehicle that day.