Man shows no remorse for alleged assault

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 8, 2025, an off-duty officer called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and requested assistance regarding a disturbance in front of the TSM Mart.

The suspect was later apprehended and charged with:

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

Count 2: Prohibited Place of Consumption, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both;

Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree ( As a C. Misd.), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 4: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $3,000.

According to the court affidavit, on July 8th, TPS received a phone call from an off-duty officer requesting police assistance at the TSM Mart in Tafuna. The officer alleged that a man (later identified as Vilitoni Tuia/ suspect) was causing a disturbance outside in the TSM parking lot.

Police officers proceeded to serve the call and upon arrival, they met with a TSM employee (later identified as the victim) where he briefed the officers regarding the matter.

The victim informed the officers that the suspect had fled the scene after the incident. Police officers later viewed the video footage of the matter and went to the suspect’s house, located behind TSM Mart.

Upon approaching the suspect’s house, the officers observed the suspect standing outside his house, and proceeded to apprehend him immediately. During the apprehension, the officers detected a strong odor of alcohol beverages from the suspect’s breath.

Vilitoni Tuia was later transported to the TPS for further investigation.

According to the victim, Mr. Tuia walked into the TSM store and bought cans of beer and then hung out outside in front of the store. The victim claimed that he received multiple complaints from the customers about Tuia drinking beer near the entrance of the store.

As a result, he approached the suspect and told him to go away. At that time, the suspect started to get aggressive and shouted profanities at him in Samoan while customers passed by. The suspect also threatened him and said that he would beat him up and kill him.

Tuia then held up his fist as if he was going to hit him but later pushed him and walked away with his plastic bag containing beer cans.

The victim further stated that this is not the first time that Tuia has consumed alcohol and caused a disturbance at TSM Mart.

The suspect was Mirandized whereas he understood and agreed to make a statement.

According to the suspect, he was consuming alcohol at the bus stop across from TSM earlier. He later walked into TSM to buy more beer and then hung out outside of the store. A few minutes later, the victim came and chased him away which upset him because this is not the first time he has done this.

Tuia denied shouting profanities or threatening the victim but he admitted that he pushed the victim because he was angry.

On the video footage, the victim and suspect were seen having a conversation outside of the store where Tuia stepped towards and pointed his hand everywhere. Tuia then grabbed a plastic bag containing groceries, pushed the victim and walked away.

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

During the booking process, Tuia said that he should've ‘beaten the crap’ out of the victim.