Police investigate alleged assault by two men in Ottoville

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 30, 2025, an individual called the authorities and reported that two men had allegedly assaulted him.

Both suspects fled the scene, but one of the suspects was 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 imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

The court affidavit filed on Dec. 1, 2025, revealed that a man (the victim) from Ottoville called the police station on the morning of Nov. 30th, alleging that he was assaulted by two men the day before, Nov. 29th, in front of a store in Ottoville.

He identified one of the men as Lionel Vaitautolu (later identified as suspect #1) but the other was an unknown associate.

Police officers were dispatched to interview the victim.

According to the victim, he was upset with his neighbor for throwing cigarette butts into his yard. He confronted his neighbor, and encountered suspect #1’s girlfriend or wife, and exchanged words with her. While he was waiting for Vaitautolu, he (suspect #1) approached him quickly from behind, and as he (victim) turned around, Vaitautolu immediately struck him with a pair of brass knuckles.

Moreover, the victim claimed that suspect #1 punched him several times, and the first punch injured his forehead. He then attempted to defend himself by striking back, but after Vaitautolu and the unknown suspect (later identified as suspect #2) assaulted him, they fled the scene.

The victim stated that his priority after being assaulted was to seek help at the LBJ Hospital.

The victim was observed with a stitched cut on the left side of his forehead with swelling and dark bruises around it, including on his head. His left eye was swollen and bruised, and there was redness on the left cheek and temple. Several minor red marks and scratches were also visible on his upper chest and shoulder area.

The officers proceeded to Vaitautolu’s house but were denied permission to approach it by his mother, who asked them to return later. During a second attempt to locate suspect #1, no one was home.

Vaitautolu is identified as a 38-year-old resident of Ottoville.

The report does not state if the second suspect was later identified.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]