Son calls cops on mother’s boyfriend who allegedly tried to break into home

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 29, 2025, a man called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report his mother’s boyfriend for allegedly trying to break down their home door and force his way into their residence.

The suspect was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Trespass, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Jan. 29th, at about 3:30 a.m., the TPS received a call from a man (later identified as victim #1) requesting assistance regarding his mother’s boyfriend, Ioane Mulu (suspect), who was allegedly trying to break into the family’s home knowing that he is not supposed to be there.

Police officers proceeded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, the responding officer observed the suspect holding a machete outside the door of the victim's house.

The officer ordered the suspect to put the machete down and to come and talk to them. The suspect refused and yelled out profanities saying that he was going to break down the door. He was asked several times to put away the machete but the suspect continued to refuse.

As Mulu was trying to break the victim’s door, the machete fell out of his hand and one of the officers grabbed the machete immediately. The suspect was advised again to calm down and talk to the officers. He later surrendered and was apprehended by the officers. The suspect was transported to the police station.

The officers then met with the victims and interviewed them.

According to the suspect’s girlfriend (victim #2), she stated that her son was the one talking to the suspect while he was tried to make his way into their house. Victim #2 explained that the suspect wasn’t allowed at their house due to a similar incident that happened last year where the suspect got out of control and attempted suicide at their home. She stated that the suspect was removed from their home and she’s trying to prevent anything from happening because they rent the place and don’t want the landlord to be involved.

Victim #2 stated that the suspect was “banging on the door using his hands and threatening to damage the door and windows if they don’t open it up.”

Victim #1 (the son) was also interviewed and he told the officers that Mulu called his mother’s cell phone and asked for her to pick him up from Iliili. He stated that the suspect told him that he was going to walk from Iliili to Aloau and that someone had to meet him halfway. Victim #1 alleged that the suspect was highly intoxicated. Moreover, when the suspect got to their residence, he threatened to break down the door and force his way inside the house.

That’s when he called the police, Victim #1 said. The suspect responded by grabbing the machete and threatening to break down the door if he sees the police at their house. The suspect waited for the police to arrive with the machete in hand.

Upon arrival at the station, Mulu was Mirandized and he agreed to make a statement.

According to his statement, the suspect said he called his girlfriend and asked if someone could meet him halfway because he’s walking from his brother’s house in Iliili. He stated that he got to Aoloau and no one showed up to pick him up. He got mad and tried to break the door and force his way into the house. The suspect also stated that he heard his girlfriend’s son call the police on him and he then told him that he was going to break the door down if he saw any police at their house.

The suspect was booked and confined at the TPS to await the next sitting of the District Court.