Man allegedly damages rental car

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 5, 2024, Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a witness claiming a male individual damaged a rental vehicle.

The suspect was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Property Damage in the Third Degree, 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 $500.

According to the affidavit, on August 5, 2024 at about 10:30 p.m, TPS received a call from a male individual (later identified as the witness) stating that a male individual known as Senetenari Leasiolag was accused of  damaging the side mirror of a H&L Car Rental’s vehicle.

Police officers responded to the call at about 10:45 p.m and upon arrival at the scene and met up with the owner of H&L Car Rentals.

The owner was interviewed and he stated that a male individual (witness) notified him that Leasiolagi broke the side mirror of his rental vehicle at his rental place. He explained that he had asked the witness to contact the TPS to report it.

The officers took photos of the scene and the damaged vehicle.

Officers interviewed the witness and according to him, he was walking from behind the suspect and he saw what happened. He said that the suspect damaged the side mirror of the H&L Car Rental by punching it with his fist and then ran away. He explained that he went back to the H&L store and reported what happened to the owner, the owner asked him to contact the TPS for assistance.

Police officers canvassed the area and attempts to locate the suspect were unsuccessful.

On the same date at about 11:40 p.m, authorities responded to a stealing case where they later located the suspect and apprehended him. The suspect was placed inside the police unit and transported to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the suspect was Mirandized and he agreed to make a statement and answer questions.

According to the suspect’s statement, he admitted that he went to the store to buy earrings for his friend and the owner chased him out of the store. That’s when he got mad and came outside and went home. He stated that on his way home, he damaged the side mirror of the H&L Car Rental’s vehicle.

The defendant was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.