Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 13, 2024, a female individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation claiming an assault on her 14-year-old son who was allegedly threatened with a machete by her boyfriend.

The defendant was apprehended and later charged with:

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

Count 2: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor in this case.)

According to the affidavit, on July 13th, at about 11:40 p.m, a female individual called the TPS to report that her boyfriend was intoxicated and had allegedly threatened her 14-year-old son with a machete.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival, a male individual approached the police unit and they witnessed this male making loud unusual noises. The officers immediately apprehended the suspect and placed him into the police unit while they gathered information regarding the incident.

The reporter (victim #2) was questioned who this male individual was and she claimed that it was her boyfriend. The reporter was interviewed at her place of residence.

According to victim #2, she stated she does know why the suspect was acting disorderly and causing trouble within their household. She said that the suspect was drunk and had been making unusual loud noises in their home because of a miscommunication between him and her son.

The affidavit stated that victim #2 was also intoxicated and was told to come with the officers to the TPS for further investigation. Upon arrival at the station, all parties were separated.

The officers interviewed victim #2 and her son (victim #1). According to victim #1, he went inside the house to the kitchen to wash his hands at the sink; however, the suspect came and asked him why the living room was wet. The victim explained that he responded that it was their dog, but the suspect did not believe him and kept asking him. The victim stated he kept replying the same answer that it was their dog that came into the house and peed on the living room floor. After numerous times of answering it was their dog that peed in the living room, the suspect grabbed him by the neck.

At that time, victim #2 intervened and tried to stop the suspect from hurting victim #1. Unfortunately, the suspect was not happy with victim #2 covering for her son and told victim #2 that she spoils her kids too much and that’s why they’re disrespectful.

The suspect then let go of victim #1 and went to grab the machete and threatened him with the machete and also shouted profanities.

Moreover, the suspect continued yelling and shouting profanities towards victim #2 and her children. The suspect also told them that he has done everything for them and asked “If this is how they treat him?”

The suspect then attempted to strike victim #1 with the machete, but his mother intervened and pushed him. The mother (victim #2) then contacted the police for assistance.

Victim #2 corroborates her son’s statement and requested medical attention for her son due to a minor scratch on his right forearm. The scratch on the victim’s forearm is from the suspect’s fingernail when his mother intervened and pushed the suspect away when he attempted to strike the minor with the machete.

The suspect was Mirandized and refused to make a statement regarding the incident.

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

The defendant is identified as a 30-year-old U.S National.