More traffic stops net more drugs found in pockets, under car seats inside 'pouches'

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 58-year-old man pulled over by traffic officers for a traffic violation is now charged with violating local drug laws after cops discovered a glass pipe containing meth in his possession.

Peter Charles Lagarejos, born in Hawaii and currently residing in Fagatogo made his initial appearance in Court last month.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, a felony.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE CASE

On June 2, 2022 at around 7:36a.m, the suspect who was later identified as Peter Charles Lagarejos was pulled over by traffic officers for an expired vehicle registration. The defendant did not have a driver’s license or any identification on his person.

Cops told investigators that when they walked back to the vehicle, they saw the defendant trying to hide a glass pipe. When they asked the defendant what was in his hand, the defendant put his hand back inside a black bag.

Police then stated that they saw the paraphernalia and asked the suspect if they could look inside the black bag. At first, the defendant refused and told officers that there is nothing inside the bag. However, after a confrontation with the officers, the defendant finally agreed and gave them the bag, which contained a clear glass pipe with a crystalline substances inside.

Police confiscated the glass pipe and the suspect was then arrested and transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for further investigation. Detectives of the DPS Vice and Narcotics Unit were then notified.

The white crystalline substance tested positive for meth.

The defendant was Mirandized after which he stated he understood his rights and refused to waive his rights. He was later booked and transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF).

IAKOPO ENELIKO

A man accused of assaulting another man last month is now in custody after police allegedly found two small baggies containing illegal drugs and a glass pipe — also containing drugs — in his possession.

Iakopo Eneliko made his initial appearance in District Court last month. He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, a felony; and three misdemeanors: third-degree assault; trespass; and disturbing the public peace.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE CASE

On the night of June 12th, a man from Malaeimi contacted the TPS requesting police assistance regarding an incident at a store where a man was assaulted by another man. Several police officers responded to the call and met up with the reporter in front of the store.

When police arrived at the scene, a red four-door vehicle parked in front of the store sped off. Police were told by the reporter that the driver of the vehicle was the one who assaulted the victim. He was later identified as Iakopo Eneliko.

According to the government, the incident happened when the victim’s nephew came to the store for shopping. Eneliko apparently scolded the victim’s nephew for staring at him.

The victim’s nephew relayed this information to his uncle (victim) and the uncle came to the store to confront the defendant on why he scolded his nephew.

 As the victim was approaching the defendant, the defendant turned about and allegedly punched the victim twice in the face, causing the man to fall down. Another man who was outside of the store jumped in to assist the victim. The defendant ran out, jumped into his vehicle with his two friends, and fled the scene as police arrived.

Eneliko was apprehended later at a restaurant in the Tafuna area, and transported to the TPS for questioning.

A body search netted two small baggies containing a white crystalline substance in his left pocket, and two glass pipes containing what later tested positive as meth in his right pants pocket.

When asked about the drugs and pipes, Eneliko told police he found them in front of the store. He later admitted that he assaulted a man at the same Malaeimi store, because the man yelled profanities at him and his friends.

ATIOO MALAKI

A man arrested during a traffic stop last month is now facing felony charges for violating local drug laws.

Atioo Malaki appeared in court last month for his initial appearance.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth; one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, both felonies; along with one count of prohibited place of consumption; one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of resisting arrest, both class A misdemeanors.

Bail is set at $10,000.

THE CASE

On June 5, 2022 about 6:25 p.m, a vehicle was pulled over for speeding by police patrolling the Nuuuli area. Two males were inside the vehicle, the driver was later identified as Atioo Malaki, the defendant in this matter and a male passenger who was sitting in the rear passenger seat behind the driver’s seat.

While speaking with Malaki, officers observed an open bottle of beer beside Malaki’s seat. When asked about the open beer container, Malaki told police that the open beer container belonged to his cousin who owned the vehicle. He then refused to get out the vehicle when instructed by police, which led to officers pulling him out the vehicle while he resisted.

Officers  placed handcuffs on the suspect and put him inside a police unit.

Before Malaki was transported to the TPS for further investigation, he was patted down and officers discovered a small pouch in his rear pocket.

When asked what was inside the pouch, Malaki shook his head and told officers that was the reason why he refused to exit the vehicle because they don’t have the right to search him and that they’re violating his constitutional rights with an illegal search.

Officers again asked Malaki what was inside the black pouch, and he replied in a low voice that it’s stuff that belongs to him and it’s for his own personal use. When asked about what “stuff” he was referring to, Malaki said that it’s illegal drugs.

Officers opened the pouch and discovered a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance, along with a small baggie containing a green leafy substance.

Regarding the illegal drugs, Malaki told investigators that he met a man at the Fagatogo market two days prior to the incident and the man told him to come over to his house in Leone if he wanted to buy drugs. Malaki provided to investigators the location of the house when he bought drugs and also the description of the man.

Investigators also questioned the male passenger who was in the vehicle with the suspect. The passenger corroborated Malaki’s statement, saying on their way back home, Malaki told him that the black pouch contained illegal drugs. The passenger was released pending further investigation.