Man arrested for allegedly stoning school where his wife was employed

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 17, 2024, a male defendant was arrested for allegedly stoning an elementary school building because he was trying to talk to his wife.

The defendant fled the scene but was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $3,000.

According to the court affidavit, on December 17th, at about 1:45 p.m., Misimoa Pou (defendant) went to an elementary school where his wife is currently employed and caused a disturbance.

The investigation revealed that the defendant yelled out profanities in Samoan at his wife and called her out while the staff and some of the students were on the premises.

After the defendant cussed out his wife, he then grabbed rocks from the ground and threw them on the roof of the ECE building three times which alarmed everyone inside the building. The investigation also revealed that it has been an ongoing matter where the defendant trespasses the school compound to start a fight with his wife in the presence of the staff and students.

Upon arrival at the scene, the officers met up with the reporter where she verbally stated that her husband called her out but she did not answer him. She then rushed inside the classroom to prepare her students for their program.

She continued to hear the defendant yelling and calling her out, while she was inside the classroom. She explained that he was so loud that it caught her co-workers’ attention. She then came out and told him to leave but he continued yelling at her.

At that point, the defendant grabbed rocks from the ground and started throwing them on the roof of the building three times and then walked up to his house, she said.

The wife also informed the authorities that she had been separated from the defendant for three weeks due to a similar incident that happened before. She added that last week the defendant came and started an argument at her workplace and he left graffiti on her classroom wall.

When the officers arrived at the defendant’s home, they knocked on his door but there was no answer. The officers canvassed the defendant’s residence until one of his aunts came out of her house and pointed out where the defendant is currently residing.

Upon knocking on the front door of the room where they were directed by his aunty, there was no answer. The defendant’s aunty then came back and knocked on the door several times and called out the defendant’s name out loud, whereas he finally came and opened the door.

The defendant was immediately apprehended and was directed by the officers to face the wall as per conducting search to a lawful arrest before being taken into the TPS for further investigation. The defendant refused to do as he was told and resisted arrest by walking away from the officers.

He refused to put his hands on the wall and when he finally did, a small black case (like a nail clipper case) was found in his left pocket that contained paraphernalia with white substances inside.

The officers were finally able to apprehend the suspect while he was trying to break off and yank his hands from the officers.

The defendant was placed in the police unit and transported to the TPS. Upon arrival at the TPS, the defendant was MIrandized and he refused to make a statement or answer any questions.

The Vice & Narcotics Unit were contacted and the evidence of possible drugs was handed over to their division for further investigation.

The defendant was later booked and transported into the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 29- year-old U.S National.