Speeder in school zone clocked at 69 mph

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 1, 2025, traffic officers conducted a traffic stop which led to a car chase between the officers and the suspect.

The suspect was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Unsafe Passing on the Left, an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $200;

Count 2: Speeding, an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $200;

Count 3: Fleeing from or Attempting to Elude Police, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both;

Count 4: Reckless Driving, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both;

Count 5: Non Possession of Driver’s License, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 6: Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

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

According to the court affidavit, on June 1st, traffic officers stationed in front of the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) in Malaeimi observed a vehicle overtaking another vehicle while traveling west in the westbound lane.

The police radar registered the speed of the offending vehicle at 69 miles per hour. The speed limit in the school zone in front of ASCC is 20 miles per hour.

Traffic officers immediately activated lights and siren, while one of the officers waved down the vehicle but the driver refused to stop.

The officers pursued the vehicle while continuing to ask it over their PA system to stop, and their emergency sirens and lights were also activated, but the driver failed to comply.

As the authorities approached Pavaiai, they observed the vehicle overtaking multiple bystander vehicles and continuing to drive dangerously westward. The vehicle took a turn onto the Iliili highway and to the Night Hawk restaurant where he surrendered and gave up the pursuit.

Police officers immediately approached the vehicle and apprehended the driver, later revealed to be Peni Ah-Chong (later identified as the suspect).

During the apprehension, the suspect actively resisted arrest by attempting to yank his arms and pull away while the officers attempted to secure the handcuffs and making it hard to restrain him. One of the officers dislocated his right thumb and his left shoulder while attempting to apprehend the suspect.

Ah-Chong was taken to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for questioning with one of the officers operating his vehicle and transporting it to the same location.

The suspect was asked for any form of identification and he informed the authorities that he had no driver’s license nor identification document in his possession. Ah-Chong refused to make a statement.

It was also revealed that the license plates on the suspect’s vehicle were fraudulent. When authorities ran the plates in the HQ system, it was revealed that the plate numbers were registered to another vehicle owned by a company where the suspect works.

The suspect was booked and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined until the next available sitting of the District Court.

Peni Ah-Chong is identified as a 31-year old citizen of Samoa.