Car chase ensues over traffic stop for an expired registration

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 9, 2025, a traffic stop escalated into a car chase when the vehicle refused to stop after being instructed by police to pull over.

The suspect was later charged with:

Count 1: Fleeing/Eluding Police, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500.00, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Non-Possession of a Driver’s License, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500.00, or both; and,

Count 3: Motor Vehicle Registration, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500.00, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, on Aug 9th, at around 12:55 a.m., traffic officers were patrolling in the eastbound lane on the Nuuuli public road when they saw a vehicle and ran its information on the police radio to confirm license  validity and expiration. The dispatcher confirmed the defendant’s vehicle had an expired registration.

The officers pursued the vehicle and tried to pull it over in front of the Family Mart store; however, the suspect continued to evade the pursuing police unit. During the chase, the suspect willfully refused to stop his vehicle despite being told over the PA system to do so. The emergency sirens were also activated multiple times, but the suspect failed to stop.

As the chase continued, the suspect fled to the dirt road beside the Holiday Mart and continued until he reached his residence, where he attempted to escape on foot.

However, the suspect was apprehended and placed inside the police unit, where he was transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for questioning.

The suspect was asked to provide any form of identification, and he informed the officers that he had no driver’s license or identification documents on him. He also told the officers that his driver’s license had expired the previous year.

Upon arrival at the station, the suspect was booked and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined until the next sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 47-year-old citizen of Samoa.