Court Report

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 16, 2023, at about 10:25pm, Jared Liu Kuey contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding a female individual identified as Puapuagaimoana Iolama who was allegedly yelling profanities followed by a loud war cry (faaumu) in front of his (victim) house in Puapua.

When officers arrived at the scene, the suspect was already sitting in front of the bus stop. She (suspect) was highly intoxicated and officers detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from her breath. Iolama was apprehended and transported to the TPS for questioning.

According to the affidavit, the victim claimed that the female individual was yelling profanities while walking towards the front of the road. He stated that “he tried to chase her away but she was really yelling the war cry (faaumu) while walking away.”

Iolama was Mirandized and was willing to provide a verbal statement, however refused to give a written statement. According to her statement, she admitted that she was “yelling the war cry (faaumu) but was not saying any bad words.”

She also explained that she was “drinking a few cans of (beer) and walking on the Public Highway.”

The defendant was charged with one (1) count of Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for six (6) months, a fine of $500, or both.

Bail for the defendant is set at $200.

The defendant was identified as a citizen of Samoa.

STONE FILISI

 On December 16, 2023, at about 11:23pm, the TPS received a call from an off duty police officer identified as Police Major Leone regarding a male individual who was allegedly causing a disturbance in the village of Fagaima. The suspect was shouting profanities followed by a loud war cry (faaumu). The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Stone Filisi.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival they were briefed about the incident. Leone stated “he and his family were cleaning up their house where the BINGO was hosted, when surprisingly he heard someone in front of their house shouting out profanities and causing unreasonable noises (faaumu).” He did not know who the suspect was until he walked to the front of the house and realized it was his stepson, Stone Filisi. When he approached the defendant, he detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his (suspect) breath. He immediately contacted the TPS for assistance.

Leone assisted the officers with placing the suspect in the vehicle for transportation to the TPS.

According to the affidavit, police officers were unable to Mirandize the defendant due to the fact that he was highly intoxicated.

When booking the defendant, the officers uncovered that Filisi was underage and consuming alcohol. He was transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility and confined while awaiting his initial appearance at District Court.

The defendant was charged with the following:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance — a class B misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for six (6) months, a fine of $500, but not less than $150, or both.

Count 2: Underage Consumption of Alcohol — a class B misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for six (6) months, a fine of $500, or both.

Bail for the defendant is set at $300.

The defendant was identified as a U.S. National.

JOSEPH TAYLOR

 On December 15, 2023, Deon Taylor contacted the TPS regarding his father, Joseph Taylor (suspect), who was allegedly causing a disturbance at their residence in Fagaima.

Police officers responded to the call received from Deon Taylor who briefly explained the situation. The victim claimed that his father (suspect) was intoxicated and had started to yell out profanities and hit the walls of their house with a hammer.

The victim further explained that “his kids especially his new born baby couldn’t sleep due to his father’s ongoing disturbance in their home the whole night” which was why he was seeking assistance from police.

Joseph Taylor was booked and confined to await the next sitting of District Court. While he was being booked, officers detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath and his eyes were bloodshot.

The defendant was charged with the following:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV) — a class C misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine of $300, or both.

Bail for the defendant is set at $300.

The defendant was identified as a U.S. National.

RAYMOND FAALOUA

On December 12, 2023, at about 7:00pm, Jerry Faaloua contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) regarding Raymond Faaloua (suspect), who allegedly was causing a disturbance in front of his house.

Police officers responded to the call and observed the suspect yelling profanities towards the neighbors’ homes. Upon apprehending the defendant, officers clearly saw a couple of empty beer bottles on the ground by his feet. Also, on the ground was another beer bottle that was half empty. Officers also detected a strong odor of alcohol from his breath.

The witness, who was also the caller that contacted the FPS, stated that he could hear his cousin (suspect) yelling profanities towards the neighbors’ houses. According to the affidavit, “he then went outside to see what was going on and decided not to approach him, because he didn’t want to get involved.”

The defendant was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next sitting in District Court.

The defendant is charged with the following:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance — a class B misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for six (6) months, a fine of $500, or both.

Bail was set at $500.

Raymond Faaloua was identified as a U.S. National.

VANI VAEGA

 On December 17, 2023, a female who refused to identify herself contacted the TPS to report two male individuals that were fighting in front of the TSM store parking lot. The suspect who allegedly initiated the fight was later identified as Vani Vaega.

Upon arrival at the scene, police officers met with a male individual later identified as the suspect, who directed them to a taxi. Simiona Savelio, the taxi driver and victim, was in a state of shock. When officers approached him, he stated that he was afraid to speak with them (officers) in the presence of the suspect. It was then that both individuals were transported to the TPS for questioning.

Officers interviewed the victim who explained “Vaega approached his vehicle and asked what he was doing at his (suspect) house last night.” He said he told the suspect that he was “dropping off an individual who called for taxi services in the village of Vaitogi.”

The victim further stated that Vaega tried to open his car door and when he was not able to, he started punching the rear window on the driver’s side. Eventually, the defendant was able to reach into the driver’s window and punch the victim in the face. It was revealed that the victim sustained a minor cut on the inside of his bottom lip but refused medical treatment stating that he was okay.

The defendant was Mirandized and willingly provided a written statement.

Vaega stated “he was trying to ask the taxi driver what he was doing near his home last night then he tried to open the car door and stated that his hand hit Mr. Savelio’s mouth.”

The suspect was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) awaiting the next sitting of District Court.

Mr. Vaega is charged with the following:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance — a class B misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for six (6) months, a fine of $500, or both.

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree — a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1000, or both.

Bail for the defendant was set at $500.

The defendant was identified as a U.S. National.