Disturbance at Lions Park escalates into an assault

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 18, 2024, a victim of an alleged assault contacted the Tafuna Police Substation to report a male individual causing a disturbance at the Lions Park where the suspect also allegedly assaulted the reporter.

The suspect was apprehended and later charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree ( As a C Misd.), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Nov. 18th, at around 6:33 p.m, a male individual (victim) called the TPS and reported that an individual was causing a peace disturbance near Lions Park and had also attempted to damage his vehicle.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they met up with the victim who briefed the officers regarding the incident.

The victim said that an individual, later identified as Fa’alafua Mariner (suspect) was causing a disturbance by bothering them — yelling and insulting him with profanities. The victim stated that he tried to chase the suspect away from his vehicle but Mariner tried to open the vehicle and attempted to damage it.

Moreover, the victim explained that he tried to remove the suspect away from his vehicle but the suspect punched him once in the head. The suspect then fled the scene and he followed him so that the police would be able to find him.

Police located the suspect and apprehended him, transporting him to the TPS for further investigation.

The defendant was Mirandized upon arrival at the station and refused to cooperate with the investigation.

It was also reported that the suspect had alcohol and appeared heavily intoxicated.

The defendant is identified as a 46-year-old citizen of Samoa.