Suspects heard arguing during alleged domestic dispute

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 9, 2025, the Tafuna Police Substation received a call regarding a domestic dispute between a couple who assaulted each other.

The husband was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV, a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

No bail is shown for suspect #2, the husband — but he is the one that was taken into custody.

Bail is set for Suspect #1, the wife, at $500. The wife is charged with the same as her husband, but the affidavit does not indicate that she was arrested or taken into custody.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identities of the minors in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, on June 9th, at around 7:20 p.m., a woman (later identified as suspect #1/ reporter) contacted the TPS stating that she got into a verbal altercation with her husband (later identified as suspect #2) who allegedly assaulted her.

Police officers responded to the call and while en route to the location, they contacted the reporter for directions and heard a male voice yelling at the reporter.

Suspect #2 was heard asking suspect #1 why she was calling the police and demanded that she hang up the phone.

Upon arrival at the scene, the suspects were heard arguing inside their bedroom. Suspect #2 was apprehended and placed inside the police unit.

Suspect #1 told the officers that she wanted suspect #2 to be taken to jail, as she feels unsafe in their home.

According to suspect #1, the argument started when she was on the phone talking to her father. She stated that her father wanted her and her husband to go to the hospital because her mother was to be taken there.

After she spoke with her father, suspect #2 got mad and called her father “stupid” in Samoan. Suspect #1 claimed that she was hurt by what her husband said and she threw a jar of mayonnaise at him but missed. They continued to argue.

After the argument, she said she tried to enter their bedroom but suspect #2 threw a flask at her and pulled her hair. She used a wire and a stick to defend herself but suspect #2 slapped her on the left side of her face twice.

The investigation later revealed that the couple’s children were present during the their argument.

A witness also stated that he was in the room when he heard a loud crashing sound, which might have been the jar of mayonnaise or the flask. The witness also mentioned that he could hear the couple arguing with their children in the room.

Suspect #2 sustained wire marks on his left forearm, bruising on his right arm and an axe handle mark on his lower back. The wire used by suspect #1 to assault suspect #2 appeared to be a charging wire of some sort.

EMS were contacted and treated suspect #2. His vitals were all normal and he refused to be transported to the LBJ Hospital for any treatment.

Suspect #2 was Mirandized to which he understood and agreed to make a statement.

According to suspect #2, he spoke with suspect #1’s father regarding going to the hospital. He claimed that her father said “no and that it was a bad time”. He alleged that suspect #1 got angry and threw a jar of mayonnaise at him and he knocked over a flask as they were arguing.

Furthermore, he claimed that suspect #1 punched him and he had to hold her back from continuing to hit him with a wire and an axe handle. As a result, he retaliated and slapped suspect #1 in the face.

Suspect #2 was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

Defendant #1 is identified as a 38-year-old citizen of Samoa whereas defendant #2 is identified as a 29-year-old U.S National.