Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 3, 2024, a female individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report she was allegedly assaulted by her husband because he was suspicious of her having an affair.

The suspect was apprehended after he fled from police and was later charged with the following charges:

Count 1: Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, 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, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 3 & 4: Assault in the Third Degree (DV) , a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant’s bail was set at $80,000.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identities of the victim and minors involved in this case.)

According to the affidavit, on October 3rd, at about 3:07 a.m., a female individual (later identified as the victim) called the TPS to alleging her husband (suspect) assaulted her at their home and had driven off — heading to Pavaiai going east. The victim provided the officers with the license plate of their vehicle.

After receiving the call, traffic officers in Malaeimi near the Neil’s Ace Hardware Store saw the vehicle with the license plate heading east. Traffic officers activated the siren and gave chase to the vehicle, but the driver did not stop and kept on driving. It was reported that the driver was driving at a fast rate of speed and going through all the speed bumps from the new Malaeimi road all the way to Ottoville.

Upon arrival at the scene, police officers were unable to find the driver but the vehicle was found and impounded.

Afterwards, the officers proceeded to the residence of the victim to do a follow up investigation. Upon arrival, they met with the victim and they conducted an interview.

According to the victim, she and her husband had an argument about someone messaging her phone.

She continued that her husband got angry and demanded that she give him the phone but she told him no one messaged her on messenger. The victim claimed that the suspect got angry and kicked her head and started punching her several times while she was holding on to their infant, their  3-month-old daughter. She stated that the suspect threatened her by saying that “today was the day that she is going to die”.

The victim explained that she then instructed her 9-year-old daughter to run to their neighbors and call the police for help. She said that the suspect chased after  their daughter to prevent her from alerting the neighbors for help.

After chasing their daughter back to the house, her husband grabbed the car keys and drove off.

She then ran to the store to ask for a cell phone to call the police, as the suspect took her phone with him.

The victim further claimed that on September 30, 2024, she and her husband also got into a verbal argument because he suspected that she was having an affair. The victim reported that the suspect struck her on the right arm and left forearm with a piece of wood, leaving small bruises on her.

Police also interviewed the 9-year-old daughter who said that her parents argued and her father got mad and punched her mother multiple times. She confirmed her mother’s account of the incident, including her father chasing after her to prevent her from seeking help from the neighbors.

Officers also interviewed the 8-year-old son of the victim and the suspect. He explained that he was sleeping when he heard his dad yell at his mom. He stated that he saw him punch her several times before running out of the house.

After the interviews, police instructed the victim and her mother-in-law to call TPS if the suspect returns to the house.

At around 3:25 a.m., the suspect’s mother called the TPS to report that her son was at their home sleeping.

Police responded to the call and upon arrival met with the suspect’s mother and she directed the officers to the room where her son was sleeping. The suspect was quickly apprehended and transported to the TPS to be processed.

The suspect was Mirandized and agreed to make a statement.

According to the suspect, he did not assault his wife, he only tried to punch her since he suspected that she was having an affair with someone else. He also claimed that he did not strike his wife with a piece of wood when they got into a fight on Sept. 30th.

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

The vehicle was released to the victim.

The defendant is identified as a-32-year-old U.S citizen.