Man arrested for allegedly threatening sister with a knife

Pago Pago - AMERICAN SAMOA

On March 28, 2025, Leone Police Substation (LPS) received a call from a woman who reported that her brother allegedly threatened her with a knife. 

The suspect was later arrested and charged with Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300.00, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $300.00.

According to the court affidavit, on Mar. 28th, at 4:57 a.m., a woman contacted the LPS and reported her brother, Semisi Lenati (later identified as the suspect), using  a knife, had threatening to stab her in their home.

Authorities responded to the call and arrived on the scene around 5:07 p.m. Upon arrival, police officers observed a woman (later identified as victim and reporter) standing at the front door of their residence. 

The victim was interviewed by the police officers where she verbally stated that her brother was cooking, and also kept walking around the house with a knife in his hand. She further explained that out of nowhere, the suspect yelled at her and told her “Don’t make me stab you!” And, while holding a cleaver knife, approached her.

The victim explained that when the suspect had come home, he went to the kitchen and started cooking. The victim claimed that the suspect got mad at her for being on her phone for too long and didn’t bother to make the food. 

Furthermore, the victim said that she had spoke to her brother (suspect) and told him not to do it again, when the same thing happened about two weeks ago — when he approached her with a knife. 

This time, she felt threatened and decided to contact the police for assistance.

After the victim briefed the officers about what happened, she then gave them permission to enter their residence. Upon entering the residence, the officers saw the suspect sitting on the couch in the living room. 

He was apprehended and transported to the LPS for further investigation.

When they arrived at the station, the suspect was Mirandized to which he understood his rights and consented to cooperate with the investigation. 

During the booking process, the suspect stated that his sister “always does that.” He admitted that he gets mad at her because sometimes “he doesn’t know if she’s crazy or stupid.”

Lenati was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) for confinement for 48 hours.

The defendant is identified as a 27-year-old citizen of Tonga.