Man accused of PPD after allegedly threatening family members with machete

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 14, 2024, a mother contacted Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report her son causing a disturbance at their family home by walking around with a machete.

The defendant was apprehended and charged with:

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

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both; and,

Count 3: 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 is set at $300.

According to the affidavit, on August 14th, at about 9:06 p.m, a mother (later identified as victim #1) contacted the TPS to report that her son Dallas Choi (suspect) is walking inside their home with a machete and disturbing her family.

Police officers were dispatched to the scene and upon arrival met with the mother (victim #1) who informed the authorities that her son (suspect) had run to the backyard. The officers proceeded to the backyard to locate Choi and observed him sitting on the cement with a machete in his possession. Police officers instructed the suspect to drop the machete and lay face down, which he complied with before he was apprehended.

The suspect was escorted to the police unit and transported to be processed at the TPS. Some of the officers remained at the scene and conducted a field investigation.

According to victim #1 (mother), she scolded her son (suspect) for not taking her grandfather to use the bathroom. She explained that out of anger, her son started cursing in Samoan inside their house and saying he wants to go back to his father’s place. She further stated that her son started hitting the cement walls with a stick he was holding, which disturbed her.

She also said that she confronted him for being disrespectful and rude. Later on, her son attempted to hit her with a plastic chair but luckily, she was able to grab it and yank it from him. Moreover, her brother tried to intervene by telling the suspect to stop where the suspect went to his room and grabbed a machete and chased after her brother (victim #2).

Upon arrival at the TPS, police officers Mirandized the suspect and he willingly provided a verbal statement.

According to the defendant, it all started because he failed to take his grandfather to use the restroom. His mother heard him getting scolded by the old man then she came over and scolded him even more.

Choi admitted to being angry at his mother for scolding him and that he started yelling profanities and hitting the walls with a wooden stick. The defendant also explained that he got heated when his uncle (victim #2) told him not to be a child with his behavior while holding a wooden stick. The defendant confessed that he went to his room and got his machete and started charging towards victim #2. He also said that during his foot pursuit of victim #2, he caught up to him when he fell down and he then threatened him for interfering when he had no business with him.

Choi was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting at the District Court.

Police officers were unable to find victim #2 at the scene but according to victim #1 she explained that her brother and his wife had left before the authorities arrived.

The defendant is identified as a 19-year-old U.S National.