Two brothers allegedly assault man who assaulted their father — All three end up arrested and charged

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two brothers from Vaitogi were arrested last month on the allegation that they assaulted the man who had allegedly assaulted their father; and, after a police investigation, their victim,Tony Vaifanua, was also arrested and charged for the assault of the two brothers’ father.

The two brothers Byrd and Jason Mino made their initial appearances in Court last month.

Byrd and Jason are each charged with 2nd- degree assault, a class D felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both, along with trespass, a class B misdemeanor.

The court has set bail at $5,000 for each of the two defendants. If they post bond, the court order Byrd and his brother to remain law abiding, keep the peace at their neighborhood and not to have a direct or indirect contact with the victim in this case.

THE CASE

On May 18, 2022, the TPS received a phone call about an assault at the Mino’s residence in Vaitogi. Several police officers responded to the call and discovered a male sitting on a chair in front of his residence, with blood on his mouth along with minor scratches on his right arm.

The male was later identified as Togimanu Mino, the father of Byrd and Jason. Officers approached Togimanu and immediately contacted EMS for medical assistance.

Awaiting the arrival of EMS at the scene, officers interviewed Togimanu about what happened and how he had sustained the injuries on his body. Togimanu told officers that he was assaulted by three males in front of a store in the area for no reason.

Togimanu provided the names of the three who assaulted him and the locations of their residence. One of the three individuals, who allegedly assaulted Togimanu was his neighbor,Tony Vaifanua, the defendant in a separate matter.

Officers went to Vaifanua’s residence and discovered him at his house, along with his mother and siblings.

Vaifanua’s sister told police that her brother, Vaifanua was beaten up by a man by the name of Togimanu and his two sons, Byrd and Jason, the two co-defendants in this matter, in front of their house in Vaitogi. She told officers that their gate was closed but she heard something going on outside,  and when she came out, she saw her brother, Vaifanua sitting on the floor. She then chased Togimanu and his two sons, Byrd and Jason off their property.

Officers confiscated a long black crowbar, which was at Vaifanua’s house before they interviewed Vaifanua about what happened. Vaifanua stated that one of the boys hit him with the crowbar on his arm. Vaifanua stated that they forced their way past the gate.

Vaifanua was later treated by the EMS at the TPS for the injuries he sustained from the alleged assault.

After Vaifanua was interviewed, officers proceeded back to the Mino’s residence to interivew Byrd and Jason about the allegation that they assaulted Vaifanua at his house.

Byrd and Jason were Mirandized and they stated that they understood and agreed to speak to investigators about what happened.

Jason told investigators that he and his brother were very mad that Vaifanua assaulted their father, and they walked over to Vaifanua’s house trying to find out what happen, but Vaifanua threw rocks and then a chair at them and told them to go away.

Jason stated that he got really mad and walked up to Vaifanua and started throwing a punch at his face with a closed fist, he also stated that his little brother, Byrd, jumped in because of what happened to their father.

Investigators also questioned Byrd about the incident and he confirmed what his brother Jason told them.

After the interview, Jason and Byrd were transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) where they were booked and confined to await the next sitting of court.

THE CASE AGAINST TONY VAIFANUA

Tony Vaifanua, the victim in the case against the two brothers, Jason and Byrd Mino was also arrested and charged over the incident where he’s accused of assaulting the father of the two brothers.

Vaifanua, who has two pending cases in High Court — both involving illegal drugs — made his initial appearance in Court last month.

He is charged with a single count of 2nd- degree assault and bail is set at $10,000.

THE ALLEGATION

Around 11:12 pm on May 18, 2022, a young woman contacted the TPS regarding an assault case at their residence in Vaitogi where her father was assaulted by other men in the village.

Several police officers responded to the call and met up with the woman who reported the incident where she briefed officers on what happened. Officers were told that the reporter’s father was assaulted by men from the neighborhood and he sustained injuries to his mouth and arm. EMS was immediately notified about the incident and later arrived to provide medical assistance.

Officers interviewed the reporter’s father, Togimanu Mino about the injuries on his face and Mino (victim) explained that Tony Vaifanua and another man beat him up at a store.

Vaifanua was picked up from his residence and transported to the TPS for questioning. The victim was also transported to the LBJ Tropical Medical Center for medical treatment. On the following morning, May 19, the victim was interviewed by investigators about what happened on the previous night.

According to the victim, Vaifanua and another man by the name of Aperaamo assaulted him. He told investigators that he got a call that was answered by his daughter (reporter) asking for him. The victim then answered the phone call where he was told to meet up with the caller in front of the store.

So the victim walked in front of the store right across from their house and met up with Vaifanua and that’s where he got assaulted by Vaifanua and Aperaamo. Police were unable to locate Aperaamo.

The victim was punched with a rock on his lower jaw, which resulted in his gums and nose bleeding and two bottom teeth falling out, along with minor scratches on his right arm.

According to the victim, after getting punched with the stone, he felt a little dizzy and didn’t see who hit him after, but he remembers two people including Vaifanua throwing several punches at his face.

Investigators also interviewed the victim’s daughter who answered the phone call. According to the victim’s daughter, she saw her father walk to the store. The next thing she saw while standing from on their patio — she had a clear view — was her father getting smashed with a rock by an unknown person. She wasn’t able to identify who that person was. Later on, her father (victim) walked home seeking help with blood coming from his mouth and nose.

BACKGROUND

Vaifanua was arrested on the night of Jan. 17, 2020 when cops discovered illegal drugs inside his vehicle when it was stopped for speeding in Nuuuli. Three males were in the vehicle — two were juveniles, the other Vaifanua.

Vaifanua, who was arrested and later released on $30,000 surety bond was charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth with the intent to distribute; one count of unlawful possession marijuana; and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute — all felonies.

Based on the investigation, the drugs found on Vaifanua were not for personal use, but for sale.

The white crystalline substance was tested and the result was positive for meth.

Both juveniles were patted down and nothing was found on them.

Almost two years later on Nov 8, 2021, Vaifanua was arrested again during a traffic stop after his vehicle failed to comply with a traffic sign at the Vaitogi intersection. A glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance, which was later tested positive for meth, was seen being held in Vaifanua’s hand.

When questioned about the glass pipe Vaifanua explained that he bought the glass pipe containing meth from Logotala in Vaitogi earlier that day and he smoked it with his friend while doing yard work at his friend’s house.

Vaifanua was is charged with unlawful possession of meth in this case and he was later released on $5,000 surety bond.