Man booked for resisting arrest after trespass allegation

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 24, 2025, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a phone call from a concerned mother who reported that her daughter needed assistance at home regarding a man allegedly trying to get into their home.

The suspect fled the scene but was later apprehended after resisting arrest.

He was charged with:

Count 1: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both imprisonment and fine; 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 March 24th, around 2:59 p.m., a woman (later identified as a witness/ reporter) contacted the TPS to report a man (later identified as the suspect) walking around outside of their residence.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival they made initial contact with the reporter. According to the reporter, she received a phone call from her daughter (later identified as the victim) that someone was inside their house, knocking on the downstairs bathroom door. The reporter also provided the authorities with cellphone footage and they were able to identify the suspect as Johnny Talia.

The officers proceeded to locate the suspect at his house and upon arrival they observed the suspect walking outside his neighbor’s house. The police officers approached the suspect and informed him of the allegations against him — that he had unlawfully entered another family’s residence.

The suspect took off immediately, and police officers pursued him on foot and subdued him. While apprehending the suspect, he resisted arrest by trying to free himself by yanking the handcuffs away while the officers were trying to cuff him.

Talia continued to make unreasonable noises which alarmed the villagers.

He also had a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath and person. The defendant was placed inside the police unit and transported to the TPS for booking.

The victim was later interviewed and she stated that “she went to shower and she heard this loud, unfamiliar voice.” She thought maybe it was her baby brother coming home from school but when she came outside she saw the suspect, Johnny Talia.

He was standing outside the door and telling her to hurry up and come outside. She cussed at him and told him to go away but he refused to leave. She then got scared and kept quiet while calling her mom to check the cameras to see who was outside the house and she told her mother to come home quickly.

The victim also stated that their neighbors were saying that the defendant was entering their houses as well.

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

The defendant is identified as a 35-year-old citizen of Samoa.