A call for help to EMS lands one man in jail for drugs and ammunition

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Bail is set at $15,000 for a man charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine); unlawful possession of meth with the intent to distribute; and two counts of possession of unlicensed arms — all felonies.

Johnny Vou made his initial appearance in District Court yesterday morning.

Preliminary examination is set for Monday, April 8th

The charges against Vou stem from an incident that was reported to police during the early morning hours of Mar. 30. On the day in question, EMS alerted the DPS Tafuna substation regarding a distress call about a fight in Ottoville, where a male was reportedly injured. EMS could not respond until the fight was dispersed.

A half dozen police officers were en route.

Police were able to speak to Vou's girlfriend who said she was the one who called for help, as her boyfriend, Vou, was injured in Iliili and it was her younger sister who brought him home.

Investigators noted that Vou sustained multiple abrasions on his face, hands, shoulders, back, and legs. EMS was dispatched. Cops say they attempted to wake Vou but "he was unresponsive," according to the court affidavit.

While in Vou's room, one of the detectives saw a "Winchester box of .32 caliber full metal jacket rounds on a table" directly across from the bed where Vou was lying.

Cops asked Vou's girlfriend if she knew who owned the bullets and she said she didn't live there — she only would visit "every once in a while." The girlfriend then woke Vou's parents and one of the cops filled the couple in, about what they discovered.

EMS arrived and treated Vou. According to them, the injuries were not life threatening. Upon hearing this, Vou's father refused to take his son to the hospital, according to the court affidavit.

The couple was told that police needed to search their son's room, per discovery of the bullets that were now seized. Vou's father was compliant.

The search netted a number of items.

On the floor near Vou's bed, cops found 2 stamp-sized baggies containing a crystalline substance. On the table where the bullets were discovered, cops found 3 ziplock baggies - 2 contained white crystalized residue. Also found was a propane tank, a pencil case containing 3 straws  that were cut and made into scoops, 4 stamp-sized baggies (empty), and 4 ziplock heads.

In a container next to the TV, police discovered a pack of rolling papers, 2 straws with cut-up ends that looked like spoons, "commonly used to scoop meth."

In a trash can, investigators found a medium-sized baggie with a crystalized substance, a .22 hollow point round, 10 stamp-sized baggies of which 3 continued white crystalized residue, and a ziplock head.

In the closet, police  were able to recover a green camouflage backpack containing a broken glass pipe "used to smoke ice," a melted glass pipe, 3 stamp-sized baggies containing a white crystalized substance, 2 gold chains, and a propane tank.

The search was interrupted when Vou's girlfriend's sister, asked police if she could get her green camouflage backpack. When shown the bag — the one police found the contraband in — the woman verbally admitted that "it was her bag."

She was immediately arrested and transported to the DPS Tafuna substation.

At this time, Vou's father requested that EMS come a second time, to check on his son. Vou was subsequently transported to the LBJ for further treatment.

Meanwhile, the search at his home continued.

On the bed that Vou was lying on, police found a medium-sized baggie containing a small amount of a white crystalline substance, a ziplock baggie and 5 stamp-sized baggies (2 of which contained residue of a white crystalline substance).

Under the bed, police discovered a black coin purse with 4 stamp-sized baggies containing a white crystalline substance, and 6 empty stamp-sized baggies, a piece of broken glass with a white crystalline substance, and a sealed straw.

When questioned by police, Vou's girlfriend's sister refused to speak.

Vou's girlfriend, on the other hand, did agree to talk. According to her, while at bingo, her sister called and told her that Vou was hurt. She said she rushed and told Vou's younger brother to call EMS. She said they were surprised that the cops showed up at the house, and it was Vou's younger brother who "tried to hide his brother's stuff by putting it in a backpack and hiding the backpack in the closet."

Vou's girlfriend said she told her younger sister about the bag and when she tried to retrieve it, she got arrested. She said, "Everything that was discovered by police belonged to her boyfriend."

Vou's girlfriend and her sister were released following questioning. Police followed up with Vou at the hospital where they were told by the attending physician that Vou tested positive for methamphetamine and tetrahydrocannabinol.

Upon his arrival at the TCF, Vou refused to make a statement.

The baggies from Vou's room were tested and all were positive for meth.

Per District Court Judge Pro Tem Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde's orders, until his matter is resolved, Vou's passport will remain in the possession of the Attorney General's Office. If Vou is able to post bond, he is to remain law abiding, make no direct or indirect contact with the victims and witnesses in this case, and he is to remain drug and alcohol free.