Whose vehicle is it anyway? She says it's her car; he disagrees

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man with two prior convictions over a decade ago is back in court on a new allegation that he stole his long-time partner’s vehicle. When pulled over by patrol officers last month, the suspect, Faamanu Talitonu told officers the vehicle belonged to him not his girlfriend. He further stated to police that he bought the vehicle several years ago while they were together and the vehicle is his.

When asked to provide any photo identifications (ID), including a driver’s license, Talitonu told police that he forgot his wallet at home where he had all of his photo IDs.

Due to the situation, police told Talitonu that they needed to go to the TPS to discuss the issue and that his vehicle would be impounded.

At first, Talitonu refused, telling police that they had no right to take him to the TPS along with his vehicle, and that they needed an arrest warrant. However, after further discussion with police, Talitonu agreed to go to the TPS. The vehicle was also impounded.

The government claims that on the morning of Jan. 15, 2022, a woman from Leone contacted the TPS for assistance to locate her vehicle, which she said was stolen by her ex-boyfriend — the father of her three young children, the defendant in this case.

According to the woman, it’s been 7 months since she separated from her ex-boyfriend, after he left them to stay with another woman.

The woman further stated to police that she suspected that her ex-boyfriend had stolen her vehicle to sell drugs because he’s a drug dealer.

According to the government, the stolen vehicle was registered under the name, Carol Salimu, the victim and the defendant’s ex-girlfriend in this matter.

Officers in Iliili public highway observed a pick-up that matched the description of the reported stolen vehicle, heading west, speeding and pulled it over.

The vehicle was driven by a male, who was later identified as Faamanu Talitonu, the defendant in this matter.

Officers later met up with the defendant’s ex-girlfriend at the TPS, where she provided officers with a document, confirming that the vehicle is registered in her name.

The defendant on the other hand continued to claim that the vehicle belonged to him not his ex-girlfriend. He further stated to police that he bought the vehicle a few years back and it was also registered under his name. He told police that he did not know the time his ex-girlfriend changed the vehicle’s registration.

After further discussion regarding the matter, Talitonu was then taken into custody and charged with stealing.

Before he was taken into custody, he was patted down and during the body search police officers found a small baggie containing green leafy substance, along with a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance in Talitonu’s pocket.

Talitonu refused to make a statement to police when he was asked about the illegal drugs.

Talitonu made his initial appearance in court last month.

The government charged Talitonu in two different cases.

In the first case, he is charged with one count of stealing, a class C felony, punishable by imprisonment of up to 7 years, a $5,000 fine or pursuant to A.S.C.A 46.2101, a fine equal the twice the amount of gain from the commission of said crime, up to a maximum of $20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

In the second case, Talitonu is charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana and one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, both felonies.

Bail was set at $10,000.