Man who allegedly tried to break into warehouse charged with assault

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 23, 2024, a victim and his mother walked into the Tafuna Police Substation to report an alleged peace disturbance and assault from an attempted burglary at their warehouse.

The suspect, Deion White was apprehended and later 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; and,

Count 2: 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.

The defendant’s bail was set at $2,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 23rd, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Deion Devante White (hereinafter suspect) physically threatened a victim by walking around with a machete angrily and attempting to throw rocks at the victim.

The victim had tried to stop the suspect from breaking into their warehouse.

At around 7:31 p.m., the victim and his mother walked into the TPS to report the incident that occurred earlier at their warehouse. The officers interviewed the victim and his mother at the station.

According to the victim’s verbal statement, at about 6:30 p.m., he found the suspect a second time trying to break into their warehouse. He tried to stop him but the suspect was standing at the front door angrily holding a machete and attempting to throw rocks at him.

He decided not to approach the suspect because he was afraid of being hurt. He told the suspect that he was going to call the cops on him and that’s when the suspect ran away. The victim also provided the video footage of the suspect walking around holding a machete and attempting to throw rocks at him.

The affidavit also stated that the suspect is one of the main suspects who is involved in burglary/stealing cases around the area.

The victim’s mother said she always sees the suspect walking back and forth on the streets. She also provided the identification of the suspect.

The officers responded to the matter and upon arrival, the suspect was nowhere to be found. The officers continued canvassing the area and around 10:55 p.m., they observed the suspect walking behind a store. The officers approached the suspect and apprehended him.

At approximately 12:13 a.m., the officers Mirandized the suspect at the station and he refused to make a statement or answer any questions regarding the allegations.

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

The defendant is identified as a 26-year-old U.S citizen.