Drunk Elderly father allegedly causes disturbance

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 22, 2025, a man called the Tafuna Police Substation and reported his elderly father for allegedly causing a disturbance.

The suspect was apprehended immediately and later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (As a Class C Misd.) (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

Court records, filed in District Court on Nov. 24, 2025, reveal that on Nov 22nd, , at around 6:44 pm, an individual (the reporter/ victim #1) contacted the TPS and reported that his father (the suspect) was allegedly intoxicated and causing a disturbance.

The reporter noted that the suspect had been yelling profanities and also threatened to assault him in the presence of their family at their residence in Iliili.

Authorities responded to the call and, upon arrival made contact with the reporter who provided a briefing on the incident. The officers then proceeded to the indicated location. They observed an older man (the suspect) standing in front of his residence, assisted by a female later identified as his wife.

The officers approached the suspect, who appeared to be intoxicated, and apprehended him immediately.

According to victim #1, “they are tired of putting up with his father’s behavior.”

He claimed that the suspect had been drinking the night before and had been causing a disturbance ever since. The suspect was allegedly shouting the Samoan war cry (fa’aumu) and yelling out profanities in Samoan. The victim also stated they didn’t sleep at all the night before due to the suspect’s behavior.

The suspect was apparently threatening to drink clorox. He also threatened to assault the victim with a speaker.

The suspect’s wife (victim #2) was interviewed and corroborated victim #1’s statement.

The officers then cleared the scene and transported the suspect to the TPS.

Upon arrival, he was Mirandized, which he understood, and he provided a verbal statement.

According to the suspect, he had been drinking since 1 a.m., and his son decided to call the police. The suspect claimed that he does not remember anything he said, but admitted that he was shouting the war cry while he was drunk.

The suspect, Anitele’a Sagato, was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for confinement to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 57-year-old citizen of Samoa.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]