Disturbance at Asili church

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 22, 2025, a woman contacted the Leone Police Station (LPS) and reported an alleged disturbance caused by a youth who was highly intoxicated.

Filipo Po’alaga, age 18, 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: Underage Consumption of Alcohol, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

There was no set bail for the defendant.

According to the court affidavit, on May 22nd, a reporter contacted the LPS about a disturbance in front of the Catholic Church in Asili. The reporter identified the person causing the problem as Filipo Po’alaga (later identified as the suspect).

At about 10:34 p.m., police officers arrived at the reporter’s house next to the church and made contact with her. According to the reporter’s statement, the suspect was causing a disturbance in front of the church, and she went outside and told the suspect to go home and get some rest, but the suspect continued yelling and punched her car parked outside her house multiple times.

The reporter told the officers that the suspect is her neighbor and he has never acted like that before — it’s the first time he has disturbed the peace because he was highly intoxicated.

While the reporter briefed the officers regarding what happened, they heard a loud noise coming from the suspect’s house. Seconds later, they heard the suspect yell out profanities in Samoan.

Authorities approached the suspect’s residence and they observed the suspect laying down in front of his house with blood all over his mouth.

The suspect’s father was also observed in the house, angry, and he asked the officers to take the suspect to jail.

The suspect was apprehended and transported to the station for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, the suspect was in and out of it due to being highly intoxicated.

He was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a U.S National.