Reported rock throwing incident incited by road rage

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 27, 2025, a woman called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and reported a road rage related incident.

The suspect fled the scene but was later charged with:

Count 1: Property Damage in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both; and,

Count 3: Public Peace Disturbance, 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 27th, at around 12:30 a.m, authorities received a call regarding an alleged disturbance. One of the victims (hereinafter reporter/ victim #1) of the incident reported that Sile Lafaele Phillips allegedly threw rocks at their car in front of their residence in Lauli’i.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene they met up with the reporter and her husband (victim #2) where they explained what happened. The victims also showed the officers footage of the incident and pointed out the damages to victim #2’s company vehicle.

Photos of the company vehicle were taken for evidence.

According to the reporter’s verbal and written statement, she stated that on the day of the incident they were heading home late in the evening after fishing with her husband in Fagaalu. As they were heading east, a truck cut them off in the Satala area. Her husband responded by cutting off the same truck and they continued to head home, not knowing that the truck was following them.

When they arrived home and while getting out of the car, they heard someone calling out to them like they wanted to fight. As they looked over they saw it was the suspect. Her husband replied back that “they’re not afraid of them”.

She then saw the suspect go back to his car on the driver’s side and they (victims) continued on to their house. As they were heading to their house, another man jumped out from the back of the suspect’s truck, which led to the suspect coming back out of his vehicle.

The suspect started grabbing rocks and yelling profanities at them while challenging them to a fight. Her husband told them “it would be best for them to leave because they are now resorting to rocks.”

The suspect continued, threatening to stone their personal vehicle and her husband told them to go ahead and do it. However, instead of damaging their personal vehicle, the suspect proceeded to stone her husband’s work truck and yell out profanities.

The reporter also mentioned that she was confused when the man that was with the suspect came and apologized to them about what was happening. He proceeded to try and stop the suspect and came back again and asked them if they wanted to fight. He then apologized again and continued to stop the suspect.

During this time, the suspect continued throwing rocks and it woke up her brother who was sleeping and he went outside where he was hit by a rock on his back. Another rock was thrown by the suspect and hit her brother again on his left ankle.

The reporter then explained that her brother retaliated and threw rocks back and forth with the suspect.

Furthermore, the reporter told the suspects to leave and informed them that they had already called the police and that she had everything captured on video.

She then saw another man back up the car while other guys grabbed the suspect and started walking away. The suspect continued to yell at them and told them that he didn't care about the police. The reporter later informed the officers that she was unable to capture the whole incident on video because she only remembered to take a video when the incident was close to ending.

The reporter’s husband (victim #2) was also interviewed and corroborated his wife’s sequence of events. He added there were three people in the suspect’s vehicle, the suspect who was driving and two other men sitting at the back of the truck.

Victim #2 was also questioned about the cost of the damages to the company vehicle and he requested some time to go to the mechanic for an estimate. The company vehicle had three minor dents and some scratches on the logo.

The reporter later pointed out her brother (victim #3) who was injured and the officers proceeded to where he was and saw victim #3 crying in pain due to his injuries. He was not able to be interviewed at that time.

EMS was immediately contacted to treat victim #3, who was later transported to the hospital.

The reporter and her husband also informed the officers that they usually see the suspect’s vehicle at one of the mechanic's houses in Lauli’i. The police requested for back up and proceeded to locate the suspect.

Upon arrival at the mechanic’s house, the officers questioned the mechanic about the suspects. They were informed that they came and dropped off the car and left. He also told the officers that they were heading east towards a certain store.

The officers proceeded to the store and located one of the men who was with the suspect. He was detained and questioned regarding the incident. The man explained that the suspect was driving and started a fight with the victims and also stoned their vehicle. He told the officers that he did not do anything.

The officers contacted the victim and they confirmed that the man was telling the truth.

The man was then questioned regarding the suspect’s whereabouts and he told the officers that the suspect was heading to Onesosopo. The man was released.

Officers attempted to locate the suspect but he was nowhere to be found.