Man arrested after allegedly threatening to kill a man with a coconut

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 27, 2025, a man called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and reported that a male individual allegedly threatened to kill him when he refused to give him a cigarette.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

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

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, 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 $500.

According to the court affidavit, on Jan. 27th, at about 11:36 p.m., FPS received a call from a man (later identified as the victim) requesting police assistance regarding an unknown man (later identified as the suspect), who had allegedly threatened to hit him with a coconut and kill him.

Police officers proceeded to the call, which was behind the Tedi’s Square in Fagatogo, and upon arrival at the location, two unknown men were seen standing 10 feet apart. One of the men waved the police unit down and identified himself as the victim and reporter of the said incident.

The victim, who resides on a purse seiner fishing boat at the dock stated that he was sitting behind the Fagatogo Market late at night, when a Samoan male who was fishing approached him and asked for a cigarette. He told him, “I’m sorry but it’s $1.00.”

The man told him he didn’t have a dollar and that’s when he climbed the coconut tree by the seawall and grabbed a coconut. When the suspect got back down, he stood in front of him, about 5 feet away and asked him for half a cigarette. He then told him that he doesn't give half cigarettes, but the suspect continued asking him about 6 times.

He then asked the suspect to remember what he said but the suspect yelled profanities at him and chased him away because he doesn’t belong there.

Moreover, the suspect picked up the coconut, wound his right arm back and pretended to throw the coconut at him. He told the suspect to “grow up” but he “swung his fishing rod back and faked trying to hit me.”

The victim stated that the suspect walked away and threatened to kill him, saying, “Get away from here or I will kill you.” He said that he also swore at him.

He then called the police and reported the suspect for threatening him.

After the victim briefed the officers, the suspect fled the scene. One of the officers pursued him on foot and apprehended the him.

The suspect, identified as Ofele Punefu was arrested and later transported to the police station for the booking process.

Upon searching the suspect before securing him in the police unit, the officers pulled out a M&M bottle [sic] from the suspect’s right pocket. The suspect was asked about what was inside the M&M bottle [sic] and he stated it was a pipe to smoke ice (methamphetamine). A small straw that contained crystallized rock was also found (it’s not clear in the affidavit if the straw with the ‘rock’ was found inside the M&M bottle [sic].)

The Vice & Narcotic Unit were contacted and took the said pipe and the straw.

The suspect was arrested upon arrival at the station, where he was Mirandized and refused to make a statement.

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 48-year-old citizen of Samoa.