Driver who was observed swerving across the road arrested

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 15, 2024, a traffic stop resulted in an arrest of male individual who was allegedly discovered with drugs inside his vehicle.

The suspect, Peni Jr. Ulugalu was arrested and charged with Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substances (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $20,000, a term of imprisonment of not less than five years, nor more than 10 years, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant’s bail was set at $3,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 15th, at approximately 12:55 a.m., a police officer contacted the Vice & Narcotics Unit (VNU) to report a case at the Traffic Office in Tafuna involving drugs.

Upon arrival of the VNU at the Traffic Office in Tafuna, they met with the traffic officer where he transferred over what appeared to be two glass pipes and two cut up straws (purple & orange) containing a crystalline substance and two lighters.

According to the Traffic Officers, they were patrolling on the main road heading eastbound near the KS Mart when they noticed the vehicle in front of them. The vehicle swerved in the middle of the lane passing the double solid lines and onto the westbound lane.

Traffic Officers stopped the truck in front of one of the restaurants around the area. They approached the vehicle and observed three male occupants inside. One of the officers informed the driver (suspect) why they were stopped and proceeded to ask the defendant if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages. The suspect replied “no” but the officer noticed that the suspect had red bloodshot eyes.

The officer asked to see the suspect’s license where he replied that he forgot it at home. He was also asked if the vehicle belonged to him and he stated no. The defendant informed the officers that the vehicle belonged to his father.

The officers told the suspect that he was not under arrest; however, he will be taken to the police station along with the vehicle for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, the officers conducted an inventory of the vehicle in the presence of the suspect. The officers discovered two cut up straws (purple & orange) containing a crystalline substance in the open space located below the center compartment on the driver’s side. They also found two glass pipes containing crystalline substances under the driver’s seat.

The two male occupants of the vehicle were released after learning they were looking for a ride home and they were picked up by the suspect on the side of the road. They told the officers they didn’t know the suspect and he stopped for them on the side of the road where they asked him for a ride home.

The crystalline substances from the cut up straws and the glass pipes were tested using the Methamphetamine Field Test Kit and it revealed positive results for Methamphetamine (meth).

The suspect was Mirandized to which he understood and willing to make a statement regarding the drugs discovered inside his vehicle.

According to the suspect’s verbal statement, he was on his way home when he came upon two male individuals walking on the side of the road heading east. He stopped for them and they asked him if they could get a ride home. The suspect explained that didn’t know the individuals or their names or where they were from. He stated he was just being nice and gave them a ride.

Moreover, he continued that he was trying to avoid what appeared to look like a pothole on the eastbound lane near KS Mart. He then crossed over to the westbound lane, and his vehicle was pulled over immediately.

The suspect admitted to being a Meth user but claimed that the cut up straws and the glass pipes discovered in his vehicle did not belong to him but the two male individuals he picked up on the road.

The suspect was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for 48 hours awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 28-year-old U.S National.