Drunk grandpa accused of assaulting grandsons

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 8, 2024, a female individual contacted the police station to report an alleged assault on four minors by her father-in-law.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace DIsturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree ( As a C. Misd.) (DV), 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 $5,000.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identities of the

minors involved in this case.)

According to the affidavit, on Nov. 8th, police officers were conducting a routine patrol when they received a call from another officer regarding an alleged assault case.

After receiving the information from the reporter’s information, police officers contacted the reporter for further details and updates about the situation and the suspect’s whereabouts.

The reporter (later identified as the victim) stated that her drunk father-in-law assaulted her three sons by hitting them using a speaker device. The victim also stated that the suspect yelled profanities in Samoan at her and her sons. Moreover, the suspect forbade them to enter the house.

Upon arrival at the scene, the victim approached the officers and briefed them again about the incident and pointed out the house of the suspect.

According to the victim, she was sitting with her two sons and her two nephews on a grave. The suspect walked towards them and challenged them to a fight — one on one. The suspect then pulled out a small JBL speaker and hit one of her nephews on his back and on his head. He then hit both of her sons and her other nephew on the head too. She stated that it scared the minors and they ran away from the suspect.

The victim explained that she went into the house and later came back out, where upon the suspect yelled profanities at her and threatened to kill her and her mother-in-law.

After the interview, the officers checked on the victims (minors all under the age of 13) for any visible injuries. The officers didn’t see any serious injuries but noted redness on their heads on one of the victim’s back.

More officers were dispatched to the scene to assist in apprehending the suspect.

Upon knocking on the suspect’s door there was no response. After knocking multiple times the suspect opened the door and approached the officers. He asked the officers, “ What have I done wrong for you to show up at my house?” The suspect was notified of the allegations to which he understood and went willingly with the officers.

He was handcuffed and placed in the police unit. Police officers also detected a strong odor of alcohol from the suspect.

The suspect was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 53-year-old male from Tuvalu.