Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 5, 2025, the Leone Police Station (LPS) received a call regarding an alleged domestic dispute between a couple.

The woman was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000.00, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300.00, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $2,000.00.

According to the court affidavit, on July 5th, at about 3:45 p.m, a man called the LPS and reported his tenants (a couple) were making unreasonable noises outside of his apartment. Police officers proceeded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they met up with an unknown woman (later identified as Michelle Tomafau/ suspect).

Tomafau was asked about what happened and she told the officers that “nothing happened”. She claimed it was just a little argument. She was asked for her husband’s whereabouts and she informed the officers that he was at the back of the apartment.

During their conversation with the suspect, the officers detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverages emitting from the suspect’s breath and clothes.

The officers proceeded to the apartment to meet with the reporter and the suspect’s husband. The suspect’s husband (later identified as the victim) was interviewed and he briefed the officers regarding what happened.

According to the victim, he was drinking beer at his apartment and his wife came home late at about 2:00 a.m. He asked her why she had never answered her phone and she raised her voice and yelled at him. The suspect told him that it might have been the service because she claimed there were no missed calls on her phone. The argument escalated and his wife (suspect) punched and slapped him. The victim also stated that the suspect scratched him hard on the left side of neck which left bruises on him.

The victim was asked if he needed medical treatment but he refused and stated he was okay.

However, the victim stated that he wanted to press charges against his wife because this is not the first time she had done this to him.

The suspect/ wife was transported to the LPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, she was Mirandized to which she understood but had a hard time signing the form.

The suspect refused to admit she assaulted her husband but when she was asked how he got the injuries, she stopped and said nothing. The suspect also admitted that she had been drinking alcohol.

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

The suspect is identified as a 34-year old U.S National and the victim as a 49-year U.S National.