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Two females charged with assault in a parking lot at a bar in Tafuna

The American Samoa District Court
Instigator says ex-boyfriend showed up with another girl…
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 10, 2024, Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call regarding a victim being stabbed during a brawl at the Flame’s Bar parking lot in Tafuna.

The two suspects, Frieda Fonoti and Alexia Young, were apprehended and later charged separately with the following charges :

Fonoti is charged with four counts:

Count 1 & 2 — Assault in the 2nd Degree, a class D felony punishable by imprisonment for up to not more than five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both;

Count 3 — Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 12 months, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both; and

Count 4 — Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six months, a fine of $500, or both.

Her bail was set at $10,000.

Young is charged with two counts:

Count 1 — Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2 — Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 12 months, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

Young's bail was set at $1,000.

According to the affidavit, on August 10th, at about 2:28 a.m, TPS received a call regarding someone who allegedly got stabbed.

Officers responded to the call and as they were pulling into the Flame’s Bar they were waved down by several bystanders. One of the officers approached one of the bystanders (witness #1) and investigated the matter.

According to witness #1, his friend was assaulted by a female individual known as Freida Fonoti. He was able to identify and point out the suspect(s) to the officers.

Fonoti (suspect #1) started yelling out profanities and picking a fight with witness #1 and his friends, while police officers were conducting their field interviews. She was then detained and placed in the bed of the truck of the police unit.

One of the victims (security guard) was placed inside the police unit due to serious injuries on his left hand, and transported to EMS in Tafuna.

Witnesses were advised by the authorities to make their way to the TPS for further investigation of the matter.

On their way to the EMS, the police unit were passing the PX, when the police officers felt an unusual movement in their vehicle, at which point Fonoti kicked one of the officers in the chest.

The officers dropped the security guard (Victim #1) off at the EMS for treatment and continued on to the station with Fonoti for further investigation.

A paragraph with the heading of “Additional Information” at the end of the affidavit explains that one of the officers reported that when transporting the parties, she looked down to secure her flashlight when all of a sudden Fonoti kicked her in the chest, slamming her against the tailgate of the police unit. It was also noted that the officers followed up with Victim #1, who they had dropped off to the EMS and taken to the hospital. Victim #1 had about 7 stitches after pieces of glass were removed from his forearm.

Upon arrival at the TPS, one of the officers met with Victim #2 who stated that it all started from inside the bar when Fonoti (Suspect #1) came over to their table and slapped one of their female friends.

Fonoti was escorted out of the bar.

However, after bar hours, when they came out and headed to their car to leave they were stopped by Fonoti.

She stood behind their vehicle and started cursing at them and told them to come out and fight with her while holding her phone and recording.

Victim #2 said that she and her friends exited the vehicle and attempted to de-escalate the situation. She further explained that Fonoti and her friends were holding shattered bottles and cursing at them, so they didn’t want to get close.

During this time, one of her male friends (Victim #3) stepped in and tried to hold them back from getting any closer to Fonoti and her friends. Moreover, as her friend was holding them back, Fonoti’s friend Alexia Young (Suspect #2) started punching victim #3 in the facial area.

Victim #2 said she then stepped in to separate the two when suddenly she felt a slight pain in her right hand. When she checked on the pain, she noticed that her hand had been cut, so she moved back.

The security guard (Victim #1) was also interviewed and he stated that the female that he removed from inside the bar was the same person that instigated the fight in front of the Oasis Restaurant while he was cleaning up trash, after the bar was closed.

He said when he stepped between the groups to prevent the fight, Fonoti stabbed him with a shattered glass bottle; and, due to his injuries, he had to remove himself. He then called the police for assistance.

Officers also interviewed one of the witnesses who stated that he witnessed what happened inside the bar but didn’t mind because the security handled it. However, when they were trying to leave, Fonoti was blocking their car by standing behind it while they were trying to back up.

And, as they got out of the vehicle, they noticed Fonoti holding a cracked (broken) glass bottle, and she was aggressive — approaching them trying to stab them with the cracked bottle. The witness also explained that Fonoti’s friend (Young) was yelling profanities and punching one of their friends. Things got out of the control and that’s when one of the security guards (Victim #1) intervened.

Another witness said that it all started because Fonoti got hurt when she saw her ex-boyfriend with her friend.

Fonoti was Mirandized and agreed to provide a verbal statement.

According to Fonoti, she got mad when she saw her ex-boyfriend (Victim #3) with another female. She looked over to get her (new girlfriend) attention so they could step outside of the bar and fight. She walked up to her ex’s new girlfriend and tapped her.

When the officers questioned Fonoti about the incident outside the bar that involved the security guard and another victim, she denied any knowledge of being involved and refused to make any other statement pertaining to the matter.

Fonoti was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

Two affidavits were issued in the incident, one for Fonoti, the other for Young. Fonoti's affidavit identifies her as a US national; while Young (Suspect #2) has no additional personal information reported in her affidavit. Young’s affidavit states the counts she is being charged with and her bail amount, with the body of the affidavit a copy of Fonoti’s affidavit body content.