Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 14, 2024, an individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation regarding three male individuals allegedly throwing rocks at a vehicle.

One of the suspects escaped from police, while the other two suspects were apprehended and later charged with the following charges:

Count 1: Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both;

Count 2 & 3 : Assault in Third Degree, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both; and,

Count 4: Property Damage in the First Degree, a class D felony punishable by imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both.

The defendants’ bail were set at $5,000.

According to the affidavit, on August 14th, at about 10:23 a.m, TPS received a distress call from an individual reporting that three males threw rocks at a vehicle that was parked in front of a store in Vaitogi.

Police officers arrived at 10:30 a.m and met with the reporter who pointed out the three males that were involved in the incident, as they were walking towards the cement road near a residence in Vaitogi.

The officers approached the suspects later identified as Leututu Toloafa (Suspect 1), Desmon Poutasi (Suspect 2) and one unidentified male individual (Suspect 3).

As officers approached the suspects, they observed an unidentified male individual (Suspect 3) holding a machete. The officers removed the machete from Suspect 3 for their safety and placed the machete in the police unit.

At the same time, Poutasi took a few steps aways from the officers and one of the officers grabbed him by the shirt to stop him from fleeing the scene. Poutasi “tapped” the officer’s arm away from him and tried to run away from the authorities. At the same time, Toloafa and the unidentified male individual fled the scene.

As the struggle continued between the officers and Poutasi, all parties ended up on the ground with the officers shortly able to place the handcuffs on Poutasi while the suspect continued to resist arrest.

The affidavit further stated that on the way to the police unit with Poutasi, Toloafa returned to the police unit and reached inside the trunk looking for the machete. The officers chased the suspect and Toloafa walked away and grabbed a rock and attempted to throw it at the police unit.

One of the officers then ordered Toloafa to walk towards them which he did, and was apprehended. Poutasi and Toloafa were then placed in the police unit and transported to the TPS for further investigation.

The third male, who was unidentified,  ran off and did not return to the scene.

At about 10:56 a.m, police officers returned to the store to see if the store had any surveillance cameras, which they did.  The officers asked the cashier for them to review the footage during the incident, and the cashier showed the officers the video footage.

In the affidavit, police officers state that they saw at 10:16 a.m, three men (defendants) walk towards a black Ford Escape vehicle parked outside of the store, in the parking lot. The unidentified male, with Poutasi was seen approaching the passenger in the vehicle with a piece of lumber, while Toloafa walked in front of the vehicle going towards the driver’s side.

The passenger is also seen coming out of the vehicle with a machete to chase Poutasi and the unidentified suspect away from the vehicle.

The three suspects are further observed gathering rocks at about 20 yards away from the vehicle and throwing them at the vehicle involved in the incident.

The first rock hit the left tail lamp and the cover fell off. Other rocks that were thrown damaged the back left passenger door, the driver’s door, the left window near the back of the passenger door, the back windshield and the top back part of the vehicle.

Poutasi and Toloafa were Mirandized whereas Toloafa refused to make a statement, while Poutasu agreed to make a statement.

According to Poutasi, “an unidentified male, Toloafa and he approached the black Ford Escape parked in front of the store. They asked the male individual sitting in the passenger side for a cigarette whereas the male passenger challenged them to a fist fight. He stated that the male passenger reached into the back seat and grabbed something. Later, it appeared that the male passenger grabbed a machete and quickly exited the vehicle and chased them away with the machete. The three of them then grabbed multiple rocks and threw them at the vehicle nonstop.

At about 12:38 p.m, the victim walked into the TPS and brought his vehicle that was involved in the incident. The officers interviewed the victim and took photos of the of the damaged vehicle.

The officers observed multiple dents on the left side of the vehicle from the headlamp to the tail lamp, multiple dents on the rooftop, and the rear and side back seat windows were both shattered to pieces.

According to the first victim, on August 14th, at about 10:00 a.m, he went with his wife’s cousin to buy his children’s breakfast. A male individual stopped them and needed help to go to the store to sell his vegetables. On their way to the store, three unknown men walking on the road called out to them, but they didn’t answer or stop.

They continued to drive off until they got to the store. As they were inside the store, the victim explained that he heard people yelling profanities. When he came out of the store he saw the same men who had been walking on the road throwing rocks at the vehicle. The victim stated that the three of them chased the three suspects away to avoid them from throwing rocks at the vehicle.

At the same time, the three suspects kept coming after them and throwing more rocks at them and the vehicle. Fortunately, the victim stated the villagers chased the 3 suspects away. Afterward they went straight home and took care of his children and then came straight to the TPS to file his complaint.

According to Victim #2, he went with Victim #1 to buy breakfast for Victim #1’s kids. He explained that a male individual waved them down saying that he needed a ride to the village store to sell his produce. He said that they picked up the male individual and headed over to the village store.

On their way to the store, they passed three males walking on the road and yelling profanities at them. Victim #2 said that they kept going until they reached the village store. As they parked in front of the store, the same three males that were yelling profanities on the road approached him asking for cigarettes. Victim #2 stated that he told them he didn’t have any cigarettes whereas Poutasi then challenged him to a fist fight. At the same time, Victim #2 observed Poutasi holding a soda can and an unidentified male was holding a machete. The victim explained he knew that these male individuals would attack him and he was worried for his safety. He then ended up reaching in the back seat and grabbed the machete to defend himself from getting attacked. He stated he exited the car and chased the suspects away.

He then saw the three male grab multiple rocks and come back and throw the rocks at their vehicle.

The Victim #1 provided a quote of the vehicle damages to the officers with the total estimate at $7,150.

Toloafa and Poutasi were confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility for 48 hours while awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

Both Toloafa and Poutasi are identified as 18-year-old U.S Nationals.