Husband held without bail on domestic dispute charges

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 24, 2025, a woman contacted the police seeking assistance with her husband, who had allegedly insulted and threatened her with a knife.

The suspect fled the scene and police weren’t able to locate him.

However, he was later 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: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

There was no set bail for the defendant.

According to the court affidavit, on Mar. 24th, at about 4:15 p.m., police officers responded to a domestic call. Upon arrival at the scene, the officers noticed a man feeling the residence. One of the officers pursued the fleeing man (later identified as the suspect) while the other officer interviewed a woman (later identified as the victim), who was waving them down in front of her home.

According to the victim, she was inside her home folding laundry when she heard someone outside murmuring. She took a peek and saw that it was her husband.

Seeing the suspect, who the victim claimed doesn’t live with them anymore, she confronted him on why he was on their property and instructed him to leave.

Moreover, the victim explained that instead of leaving, the suspect who was intoxicated, lashed out at her. He insulted her by yelling profanities and making derogatory remarks while standing outside her house. She pretended to contact the authorities because of the suspect’s disrespectful and chaotic behavior and in doing so her husband walked away for a moment.

The husband then came back holding a knife and she continued to pretend she was relaying the information to the police. However, the suspect held the knife to his neck and stated in Samoan that “ things such as this it’s either life or death”.

Fearing what her husband might do, she contacted the police and requested assistance.

The victim added that she is tired of her husband’s behavior and claimed that this is not the first time the suspect was locked up because of such actions.

The victim was asked about having a restraining order on the suspect to which she replied that the restraining order is currently being processed. The knife was then brought to the officers by the victim wrapped in a piece of clothing. The victim stated that she found it in the back of their house.

In addition, the victim stated that she previously told the suspect that he wasn’t allowed to live in the house or be there. She also mentioned that when the suspect placed the knife to his neck, she claimed that it was meant for her.

A pursuit of the suspect was conducted and despite the authorities’ efforts, the suspect was not located and he was still at large.

On Mar. 25th, the officers followed up on the victim’s statement but the victim wasn’t at home. However, the police were able to speak with the victim’s daughter.

She verbally stated that she was also tired of seeing her mother being harassed by her father (suspect). She explained that she came home after her hospital appointment the day of the incident and saw her mother on the phone while her father was cursing her out. The victim’s daughter further stated that this is not anything new and that the suspect was always disrespectful and disturbingly loud.

The knife involved was 30 cm in length.

The defendant is identified as a 43-year-old U.S National.