Another prisoner escape at TCF

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 27, 2023 at 11:20 AM Chief of Police Pouu’amea Tuaolo Supapo and Director of the Tafuna Correctional Facility met up and gathered information regarding the escape of Tauagiga Taele from confinement at the District Court. 

Department of Public Safety Officers then made their way to the District Court, where they met up with the court marshals and were briefed on how Taele escaped.

The Court Marshal on duty showed officers the camera footage of the escapee, who made his escape through the emergency exit next to the District Courtroom and fled from there, behind both courthouses towards the market area. 

According to the Court Marshall, Taele was allowed to use the bathroom and that was the reason only one of his wrists was cuffed. He then exited the bathroom, and left through the side emergency door. 

Officers then gathered a description of what the defendant was wearing when he escaped, and proceeded to canvas the Fagatogo area trying to locate the defendant, however, officers were unsuccessful and they made their way back to court to confirm the defendant’s identity, who is from Taputimu. 

As of press time, Taele was still on the loose with DPS continuing their search for the defendant, with no arrests made.