Man arrested after allegedly threatening to cut his wife’s throat with a rock

By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 19, 2026, a woman contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that a man was causing a disturbance at their home including threatening to kill members of their household. The suspect was arrested and charged with: Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 days, a fine of up to $300, or both imprisonment and fine; Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, or both; and, Count 3: Property Damage in the Third Degree, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $500, or both. The defendant was held without bail. According to the court records, an individual contacted the TPS requesting immediate police assistance. She reported that an individual later identified as Maota Sua was creating a disturbance inside their residence by breaking household items and threatening those inside the home. She also informed police that the suspect had become aggressive and threatened to cut her mouth with a knife. Fearing the situation could escalate further, she requested officers respond immediately. Within minutes, officers were dispatched to the residence in Nuuuli. The responding officers arrived and made contact with the caller outside the home to gather information about the disturbance. While officers were interviewing the complainant, they reportedly heard a man yelling loudly from inside the residence. According to court documents, the shouting could be heard from outside the home, prompting officers to enter the residence to investigate further. Upon entering, officers observed a man later identified as Sua walking into one of the bedrooms. Officers followed him into the room and placed him under arrest without incident. He was then escorted outside and secured inside a marked police vehicle. Investigation Reveals Household Dispute Escalated The police investigation revealed the caller was a tenant living in the same residence as Sua and his wife. Investigators interviewed both women separately after the suspect had been taken into custody. According to the caller, Sua returned home at approximately 7:30 p.m. appearing intoxicated. She stated that shortly after arriving, Sua's wife asked him where he had been since getting off work earlier that afternoon. Instead of answering the question, Sua allegedly became enraged. The suspect then began yelling profanities throughout the residence while throwing kitchen pots and pans across the house. The caller also told investigators that Sua repeatedly shouted profanities in Samoan while continuing his aggressive behavior. As the confrontation intensified, Sua allegedly began punching the walls inside the residence, causing damage to the home. It’s further alleged that he removed one of the home's window louvers and attempted to use it to strike his wife. She also informed the police that during the disturbance, Sua threatened her life by stating that he would cut her throat with a knife. The threat caused her to fear that the situation could quickly become violent. Wife Gives Similar Account Police also interviewed Sua's wife, who provided investigators with a statement that corroborated the caller’s description of the incident. According to the suspect's wife her husband normally finished work at approximately 3:30 p.m., but he did not return home until around 7:30 p.m. Concerned about the four-hour delay, she asked him where he had been. She told investigators that the simple question immediately angered her husband. Instead of responding calmly, Sua allegedly began throwing kitchen cookware around the residence and yelling profanities. She also said she attempted to calm him down, but her efforts were unsuccessful. The suspect continued shouting aggressively throughout the residence. She also reported hearing him threaten the caller, allegedly saying that he would come and cut her throat with a rock. She informed investigators that both she and the caller were tenants residing at the property where the disturbance occurred. Arrest and Booking Following his arrest at the residence, Sua was transported to the TPS for further investigation. Investigators then Mirandized and he acknowledged that he understood those rights by signing a written rights form. Officers also read the waiver portion of the form to him. Sua declined to provide a statement or answer investigators' questions regarding the allegations. After the booking process was completed, he was transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he was confined pending his initial court appearance. The defendant is identified as a 34-year-old citizen of Samoa. The affidavit was filed in the District Court on June 22, 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
2026-07-07 17:45:38