Woman reports she was assaulted by a friend after she left with a plate of food

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 14, 2024, a female individual called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that she was allegedly assaulted by one of her friends.

The suspect was later charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (Class A), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine: and,

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

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

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 14th, at approximately 10:38 p.m., a female (victim) contacted the TPS and reported that Tauasosi Fa’apale assaulted her with a plastic bowl causing a laceration to her head in the front of his house.

The officers proceeded to the call and upon arrival at the scene they met with the victim who was standing in front of the apartments across from a sewing shop. The victim was observed with blood dripping from her head and minor cuts to the back of her forearm.

The officers were directed by the victim to the area where the assault occurred which was in front of the suspect’s house. However, after canvassing the area, the suspect was nowhere to be seen.

The victim was then transported to the TPS for further investigation. The victim was evaluated by the EMS team and was advised that her injury required stitches. Before releasing her for treatment, the victim was able to provide both verbal and written statements.

According to the victim, she and the defendant are friends and this is the first time he has acted violent towards her. The victim also mentioned that she was always at his house but they never had an issue.

She explained that on the day of the incident, she went to the suspect’s house because one of her friends was at his house celebrating her birthday. She entered the room and gave her friend $20 as a birthday present. At this time, the suspect was in the kitchen and he was cooking.

She then walked out with a bowl of food and was headed to go back home. She was stopped in front of the suspect’s house and was punched eight times in the head including her face. When she attempted to hand the bowl of food back, the suspect grabbed it and assaulted her in the head leaving a deep cut on the top of her head and minor cuts on the back of her right forearm.

After the altercation between them, the victim stated that she told the suspect that she would call the police and the suspect told her to go ahead and “he could care less”.

The victim said she left the area and walked over to the apartments across from the sewing shop to await the police unit. The victim also stated that she didn't know why the suspect assaulted her and suggested that it was because she walked out of his house with a plate of food.

The victim was released to be treated by the EMS after her interview.

The defendant is identified as a 47-year-old citizen of Samoa.