Woman alleges neighbor had threatened her with machete

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 30, 2025, a woman called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) seeking assistance regarding her neighbor who was allegedly threatening her with a machete.

The suspect was apprehended and charged with:

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

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of up to $300, or both; and,

Count 3: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

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

According to the court affidavit, on May 30th, at around 11:00 a.m., FPS received a call from a woman requesting assistance regarding a drunk man (suspect) who is also her neighbor. She alleged that the suspect came to her house with a machete and seemed drunk.

Authorities responded and upon arrival at the scene, an unknown woman approached them and identified herself as the victim/ reporter of the said matter.

The victim was interviewed and stated that in the early morning, Kisani Tama (suspect) came to her front door and knocked loudly while calling her out. The suspect accused her of cutting plants and throwing them on his side of the land. She told the suspect to go away and that she was going to call the police on him. Tama left but not long after he came back and started yelling nonsense and kept knocking on her door loudly but this time he was holding a machete in an attempt to scare her.

She then called the police and again informed the suspect that she was calling the police for help, and the suspect left again.

After the victim’s interview, the officers tried to locate Tama, however while searching for him, the officers received a call from the police station stating that the victim called again that the suspect was in front of her house again. The officers proceeded back uphill to the victim’s residence where the suspect was observed sitting next to his house drinking a can of beer.

The suspect was immediately placed in handcuffs and was escorted to the police unit to be transported to the police station for booking.

During transporting, Tama admitted that he had been drinking when the police got there. He also confessed to approaching the family with a machete in his hand because he was mad at his neighbor for leaving rubbish and plants on his land.

The officers notified the suspect that he was going to be booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF), and the suspect got mad and threatened the responding officer.

Tama told the responding officer that when he gets out, he will be coming after him. At the same time, the suspect was yelling profanities at the officer and calling him names.

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

The defendant is identified as a 46-year-old U.S National.