Traffic stops for speeding catch same man for alleged drug possession

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On two separate occasions, traffic stops for speeding led to the arrest of the same 30-year-old male for alleged drug possession. He is identified as Anderson Ta’ala.

Ta’ala was charged in the first case with the following:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5000 nor more than $20,000, or both;

Count 2: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five or more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5000 or more than $20,000, or both;

Count 3: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than twenty years and a fine of not more than $20,000, or both; and,

Count 4: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute (Marijuana), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than twenty years and a fine of not more than $20,000, or both.

Bail for Ta’ala was set at $20,000.

FIRST CASE

On November 21, 2023, police officers conducted a traffic stop in the village of Utulei for speeding. Officers informed the male of the reasons for the traffic stop and asked for his driver’s license. The driver claimed that “he didn’t have his driver’s license with him but identified himself as Anderson Ta’ala.”

Police officers informed Ta’ala that the vehicle he was driving would be impounded because he was “operating a vehicle on the public highway without a valid driver’s license.”

They further explained that he would not be taken into custody and requested that he exit the vehicle as an E-citation would be issued. As he provided his information for the officers, he requested that he only be issued a citation and not be taken into the Police Station for questioning.

After the E-citation was issued, the officers asked if there was anything valuable inside the vehicle that he would need. Ta’ala stated that “he only had his cigarettes and phone.” As they approached the vehicle, the officer noticed a black pouch inside one of the compartments below the stereo of the vehicle and allegedly saw what appeared to be a glass pipe containing a crystalline substance.

When questioned about the pouch, Ta’ala stated “it didn’t belong to him.” Police officers then confiscated the pouch and a green backpack, which Ta’ala claimed also “didn’t belong to him.”

Police officers escorted Ta’ala and the vehicle to the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) for further investigation.

Arriving at the FPS, officers questioned Ta’ala regarding the vehicle he was driving. He stated that “the vehicle doesn’t belong to him.” When the officers ran a vehicle check through the OMV registration, they were able to confirm that Fu Cheng Zhao of Alofau was the owner of the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle was rented to Ta’ala who “went to the rental company earlier in the day to pay $120 to extend the rental.”

According to the affidavit, officers confirmed that the black pouch seen in the vehicle during the traffic stop contained a glass pipe containing crystalline substances, a small medium size baggie containing what appeared to be green leafy substances, a hand rolled cigarette containing green leafy substances, and clear small empty baggies.

As officers conducted an inventory sweep of the vehicle in the presence of Ta’ala, they discovered “a mug with a clear cover located in the cupholder near the armrest that contained a small sized baggie filled with a good amount of crystalline substance, a glass pipe containing crystalline substance, and another small empty baggie that had crystalline residue in it.”

Upon the discovery of the contents in the vehicle, the Vice and Narcotics Unit (VNU) were notified and their assistance was requested.

A Methamphetamine Field Test kit was used to test the crystalline substance from the pouch and the mug and the results came back positive for methamphetamine (meth).

The green leafy substance from the baggie and hand rolled cigarette were tested using the Duquenois Levine Test kit and the results came back positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Contents of the green backpack included a small grinder (commonly used to grind marijuana) with a green leafy substance. Tested, the results revealed that it was positive for THC.

Ta’ala was Mirandized and refused to make a statement or answer questions.

He was booked and taken to the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TFC) for a 48-hour confinement.

Ta’ala is identified as a U.S. National.

SECOND CASE

The second case reveals that on November 29, 2023, a traffic stop and an issued bench warrant led to the arrest of Ta’ala. Allegedly, a glass pipe with a crystalline substance was discovered in the vehicle and a pat down of the defendant resulted in the recovery of a medium-sized baggie filled with an uncut crystalline substance.

Ta’ala was arrested and charged with the following:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Meth), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5000 nor more than $20,000, or both; and,

Count 2: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute (Meth), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than twenty years and a fine of not more than $20,000, or both.

Ta’ala’s bail was set at $20,000.

BACKGROUND

On November 29, 2023, the VNU was contacted by the FPS concerning a drug case. VNU was informed of a traffic stop that was conducted where a glass pipe with a crystalline substance was allegedly found.

Officers stated that the vehicle was stopped for speeding in which the defendant was traveling 30 mph in a 20 mph zone. The officers explained to the defendant the reasons for the traffic stop and he presented them with his driver’s license. The officers then confirmed that there was a bench warrant out for the defendant, therefore he was detained and transported to the Police Headquarters in Fagatogo.

According to the affidavit, arriving at FPS, an inventory sweep of the vehicle was conducted in which police officers saw a glass pipe on the floor of the driver’s side. Also found was a black backpack that was opened on the floor in the back seat. Ta’ala (defendant) stated “the bag was his and he wanted to take the bag with him.”

With the use of a Methamphetamine Field Test kit, officers confirmed the positive results of meth in the glass pipe.

Before questioning, a pat down was conducted on Ta’ala. The officer conducting the pat down stated “as I proceeded to pat down the pockets of Ta’ala’s shorts, he would flinch and swing his hips left and right, trying to avoid the patted area.”

According to the affidavit, he was asked if he was hiding any contraband on him and was instructed to lower his pants while spreading his legs more than shoulder-width apart. It was then that a medium sized baggie filled with a crystalline substance fell to the floor.

The officer secured the medium sized baggie and Ta’ala “spontaneously uttered that the glass pipe and medium sized bag with the crystalline substance in it were for his own personal use.”

The findings were then tested and the results yielded positive for meth.

Ta’ala was Mirandized and refused to make a statement.

However, he consented to the search of his black backpack. The affidavit further states that the items found in the black backpack included drug paraphernalia and a medium sized baggie with 5 red pills in it.

The officer stated that “in his experience and knowledge of the items and quantity of the crystalline substance that was found, these are all items associated with the intent to distribute.” The medium sized baggie that was found weighed 0.42 oz.

Taala was booked and transported to the TCF for confinement. His vehicle was released to his wife.