Man facing multiple other criminal counts now faces drug charges

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Bail of $3,000 has been set by the District Court for Christopher Patu on charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

The defendant is on probation on a separate matter and for allegedly “failing to comply with the court’s order to submit to random testing during the term of his probation” says court filings.

It’s alleged that Patu was informed by Chief Probation Officer (CPO) Malcom Polu of the court order but he did not heed the order.

In June the CPO saw the defendant riding his bike near the courthouse and informed him about the order.

The CPO then informed Court Marshal Mareko Fale to “check if Patu is coming to court or heading to work (Fagatogo Square across from Court) and to detain him immediately.”

According to Marshal Fale, as he stepped outside of the office, he observed Patu riding his bike without a shirt and wearing a black fanny pack around his waist in front of the Fagatogo Square.”

Fale called out to Deputy Court Marshal Michael Nix to assist and he drove around the courthouse and as they approached Patu it’s alleged he took off running.

A short foot pursuit ensued and Patu was detained near the front side of the court building. Patu was then escorted to the vehicle with a black fanny pack around his waist, however he tried to remove it and give it to another man that was at the scene.

At the probation office, Patu was processed for confinement and upon inventory of his properties, a medicine bottle was discovered inside the black fanny pack containing 28 colored cut-up straws filled with crystalline substance.

Also discovered was cash of $36, a lighter and air pods. When asked by the Marshal to whom the items belonged, Patu replied, “its not his.”

The Vice and Narcotics Unit was contacted for assistance. The same day, Patu was Mirandized but refused to sign the form and also refused to cooperate and wished to remain silent.

He was then booked and confined at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TFC).