Woman charged with PPD and resisting arrest while allegedly intoxicated

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 2, 2025, a concerned citizen called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) to report a woman who was allegedly causing a disturbance by challenging people to fight her while yelling profanities.

The woman was later arrested 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 imprisonment and fine;

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

Count 3: 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 $1,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Apr. 2nd, at about 4:16 p.m., FPS received a report from the District Court Marshal concerning a female individual engaging in disorderly conduct.

She was reportedly yelling profanities loudly in front of the pavilion in Fagatogo, a location frequently occupied by families and children. The report further indicated that the woman was attempting to incite altercations with bystanders. She was described as wearing a black shirt and blue pants.

Police officers went to the scene and while on their way they received confirmation of the incident from the watch commander. Upon reaching the scene, officers received an update indicating the suspect’s presence near the market place.

The officers detoured to the marketplace where the suspect was seen yelling profanities and engaging in verbal abuse directed at innocent bystanders. Police observed her challenging individuals to physical confrontations, escalating the situation before boarding a blue bus.

As the officers approached the bus, the suspect continued her disruptive behavior, even directing her insults at the officers.

Despite attempts by the officers to de-escalate the situation, the suspect’s aggressive behavior persisted, preventing any meaningful communication.

In an effort to apprehend the woman, the officers attempted to detain her but she resisted, pulling away and flailing her arms. Moreover, as the officers attempted to secure her hands with handcuffs, she resisted violently, striking the officers with her fist and scratching their hands.

Once detained, the officers tried to escort the suspect from the bus, but she continued to resist and struck another officer with her elbow. The officers were then forced to employ necessary physical restraint to remove the suspect from the bus and dragged her out by her hands.

Upon reaching the Fagatogo Police Station, she suspect continued to use profanities and threatened the officers. The suspect stated that upon release, she would seek retribution, specifically targeting the officers.

The suspect continued to resist arrest during the booking process at the station. She also continued her violent behavior in the station resulting in damage to station property. The suspect kicked tables, banged on the glass door and kicked the wall with force that a significant hole was created.

Due to the ongoing threat of further destruction and injury, the suspect was removed from the station and placed in the police unit where she was transported to the Tafuna Correctional facility for confinement.

The suspect was booked as “Jane Doe” due to her intoxicated state and uncooperative nature, preventing the officers from obtaining her name.

She was later identified as Puapuagaimoana Iolama, a 28-year-old-citizen of Samoa.