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Several ‘drunk and disorderly’ cases in court

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 30-year-old man who has a pending matter in the Family, Drug and Alcohol (FDA) court was arrested last month and charged with criminal contempt, along with violating local drug laws.

According to the government's case, police got a call for assistance on Tuesday night, July 26th in Aua, reporting that Kamilo Paea was drunk and disorderly.

A police dispatcher claimed to have heard "people yelling and shouting profane words and children crying" in the background.

Cops who responded to the call say they heard people screaming from several houses down when they approached the area. A search for the suspect was carried out, at his home, which is near the ocean.

An officer shined his flashlight toward the shore and spotted Paea standing at the road, "as if he was getting ready to run away," according to court documents.

A police officer called out to Paea to stay where he was, but Paea allegedly called back to the cop, "No, I don’t want to go to jail,” and then fled to the back of other houses in the same neighborhood. Two men from the area assisted officers in searching for the defendant and found him hiding at the back of an abandoned house a few blocks away. He was immediately placed inside the police unit with his hands cuffed, while cops tried to collect more information regarding the incident.

Several witnesses told officers that Paea was intoxicated and yelling profanities at his family and neighbors.

Another witness stated that Paea came home and started screaming at everyone in the house. The witness said such behavior has become Paea’s habit.

When a family member told Paea to tone it down, Paea turned around and started a verbal argument with the family member. Paea was cussing at her and threatening to kill her if she ever bothered him again.

Before Paea was transported to TPS, a body search was conducted by officers. During the body search, officers discovered a small baggie containing methamphetamine, and another small baggie containing marijuana inside Paea’s right pocket.

When asked about the drugs, Paea told officers that they belonged to him. He did not offer any further information regarding the illegal drugs.

Paea made his initial appearance in court last month.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, both unclassified felonies, punishable by imprisonment from 5 to 10 years, a fine of up to $20,000, or both, along with one count of contempt of court, a class A misdemeanor.

Bail is set at $5,000.

WILSON MAREKO

A 25-year-old male accused of disturbing the peace in a restaurant parking lot last week Saturday made his initial appearance in District Court this week, where he entered a not guilty plea to the single charge of public peace disturbance.

Atonio Mareko is being represented by Assistant Public Defender Ryan Anderson while Assistant Attorney General Hanna Kim is prosecuting the case.

Stuart asked the court to release his client on his own recognizance, saying this is his first offense and the allegation against him is not serious. The prosecutor did not oppose the defense’s motion.

Judge Elvis P. Patea granted the defense’s motion and released the defendant under usual conditions that include being alcohol and drug free.

“You are not allowed to go back to the restaurant compound at anytime,” the court told the defendant on penalty of being jailed until his case is heard.

The government claims that on Aug. 21st around 8:40 p.m, police officers apprehended an unknown individual later identified as the defendant, for disturbing the peace in a restaurant parking lot in the Tafuna area.

Police officers working on the west side said they were at the other side of the restaurant’s parking lot area when they heard someone shouting profane words, both in Samoan and English.

Officers approached the crowd and observed the defendant yelling profanities and challenging people in the parking lot to a fistfight.

Police officers intervened and apprehended the defendant, who was then transported to the Tafuna Police Substation where he was booked and taken to the TCF to await his first appearance in District Court.

The court affidavit said Mareko was heavily intoxicated.

An eyewitness told police that the defendant approached another male individual, who was standing behind a blue pick up before he (defendant) allegedly punched the male individual in the eye. The victim then jumped inside the pick up and left the area immediately.