Bus driver allegedly assaults man for “no reason”

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 11, 2025, a man contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and reported that he was allegedly assaulted by an unknown bus driver for no reason.

The suspect was apprehended and later 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; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, 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 $1,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Apr. 11th, at around 8:30 a.m., a man contacted the FPS and reported that he was allegedly assaulted by an unknown man.

The officers responded to the call and upon arrival encountered the victim who was standing in front of a laundromat. The victim was observed with minor injuries in his facial area.

The EMS was immediately contacted by the officers to tend to the victim’s injuries. While waiting for the EMS, the victim was interviewed by the officers about the incident.

The victim stated that he was waiting for a bus in front of the laundromat while he was on his phone. Suddenly, a maroon bus stopped and pulled up in front of him and the bus driver exited the bus. The bus driver walked up to him and immediately punched him in the face with a closed fist. He said he lost his balance and fell to the ground while the bus driver continued to throw countless punches at him.

Moreover, when he tried to defend himself, the bus driver grabbed his (victim) phone and went back on the bus and drove off, heading east.

After the victim’s interview, he was placed inside the police unit while the officers requested the laundromat owner’s permission to view his store camera footage. The owner voluntarily granted the request and showed them the footage.

The footage corroborated the victim’s statement regarding what happened.

At about 8:45 a.m., the victim was transported to the FPS for further investigation and to await the arrival of the EMS unit but he refused treatment.

The victim presented swelling and minor lacerations below his right eye, and scratches below his cheek and near the right eye and on his nose.

The officers were able to locate the suspect’s bus on the road, in Fagaalu, where the bus driver was stopped, notified and brought into the station for further questioning.

Upon arrival at the station at about 9:18 a.m., Samitoto Kaio was Mirandized to which he understood and refused to make a statement or to answer any questions.

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

The defendant is identified as a 42-year-old citizen of Samoa.