Woman reports she was violently assaulted by boyfriend after he became intoxicated

By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 9, 2026, officers with the Department of Public Safety launched an investigation into a reported domestic violence incident involving allegations of assault, strangulation, and threats made against a woman by her boyfriend, Tomato Junior Fa’alogologo. The defendant was later arrested and charged with: Count 1 & 4: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine; Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both; Count 3: Assault in the Second Degree (DV), a Class D felony punishable b y imprisonment not to exceed five (5) years, a fine not to exceed $5,000 but not less than $150; Count 5: False Imprisonment (DV), a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both; and, Count 6: Public Peace Disturbance (DV), a class B misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months and a fine not to exceed $500 but not less than $150. The defendant was held without bail. According to the court affidavit, investigators were assigned to the case after the victim reported that she had been violently assaulted during the early morning hours of May 9th. Police documents state that the victim arrived at Fagatogo Central Police Station (FCPS) later that evening, where officers conducted an interview and documented numerous visible injuries allegedly sustained during the incident. During the interview, the victim allegedly told investigators that she and Faalologo had been spending time together at a beach shortly before 1:00 a.m. when an argument suddenly erupted. According to the victim, the defendant had allegedly become intoxicated and began accusing the victim of interacting with other men, despite no one else reportedly being present at the location. The argument escalated into violence when Faalologo allegedly became physically aggressive and began strangling the victim. Investigators reported that the victim stated she was choked for approximately a minute until she lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground. After regaining consciousness, the victim allegedly discovered that the defendant was on top of her while continuing the assault. According to police, the victim also reported being repeatedly punched in the face, shoulders, and back while being restrained on the ground. Investigators documented the injuries that the victim sustained, bruising to her neck, shoulders, and back, as well as scratches across her face during the attack. The affidavit further alleged that the violence continued after the physical assault. The defendant allegedly demanded that the victim sexually satisfy him before he would allow her to leave the area. The victim refused and attempted to escape when the defendant initially blocked her path while she remained seated and vulnerable before eventually walking away, giving her an opportunity to flee and seek safety. Officers documented multiple visible injuries during their interview with the victim. The investigators observed a swollen right eye, swelling to the left cheek, scratches on the nose, cheeks, and chin, along with bruises on the neck, arms, and back. Police photographed the injuries as evidence for the criminal investigation. During the investigation, the victim also disclosed a prior unreported incident that allegedly occurred several days earlier on May 6, 2026. The victim stated that she and Faalologo were at their residence in Utumea when another argument turned violent. Investigators reported that the defendant allegedly strangled her again and repeatedly punched her in the right eye. The victim allegedly explained that she did not report the earlier incident because she wanted to avoid conflict between the families while her parents were away attending medical appointments. Authorities stated that the victim expressed fear for her safety and requested protection from the court in the form of a restraining order against Faalologo. Later that evening, officers located and apprehended Faalologo before transporting him to the FCPS for processing. The defendant was Mirandized and acknowledged understanding his rights but declined to provide a statement regarding the allegations. Following booking procedures, Faalologo was confined pending the next available sitting of the court and was later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility. The defendant is identified as a 31-year-old citizen of Samoa. The affidavit was filed in the District Court on May 19, 2026. As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. [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.] Section: Local News Tags: court report
2026-05-27 17:30:25