POLICE BEAT

BREAK-INS AT MAIN US POST OFFICE IN FAGATOGO 

The central US Post Office, in downtown Fagatogo is under local police investigation, following two break-ins over the last two weeks.

American Samoa's Chief of Police Pouu’amea Tuaolo Sapapo in response to Samoa News questions confirms the break-in that happened last week.

She also says the one that happened last week has been solved, but she couldn’t release any information as procedurally it goes to the Attorney General (AG) first.

Chief Sapapo further told Samoa News that police are currently investigating the break-in that happened Thursday night, June 29, at the US Post Office in Fagatogo. 

She said that “all of the cases are going to the AG’s Office” and confirmed that “yes there was a break in (Thursday night).”

(Samoa News should point out that US Post Offices are federal premises and usually break-ins are a matter for the FBI to handle.)

TCF PRISON ESCAPES OF CONCERN TO GOVERNOR 

The Governor’s Office released a formal statement last week Friday, June 30, 2023, concerning prison escapes from the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF), which seem to be a common occurrence.

The latest one was reported in the Samoa News, Tuesday, June 24, 2023 issue. The court report identified a prisoner that allegedly escaped from TCF and was being charged with one count of Escape from Confinement. The prisoner denies that he ‘escaped’, and told investigating police he was taken outside of TCF by a Corrections Officer to fix his vehicle, according to the court affidavit. The Corrections Officer denies the prisoner’s account of the incident.

 The inmate is serving a sentence from a previous felony conviction.

The brief statement from the Governor’s Office reads, “It is a top priority of Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga to maintain the safety and welfare of the citizens of American Samoa.

“Governor Lemanu is working with Director Tauanuu Semu Tauanuu and Warden Papali’i Marion Fitisemanu to ensure that those who are incarcerated at TCF are securely maintained in the facility and that the public is safe from any threats.”