Couple’s ‘heated argument’ escalates into alleged assault

By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 22, 2026, a man accused of threatening his longtime girlfriend with a knife during a domestic dispute that unfolded in front of her 11-year-old daughter, left family members fearful for their safety. The defendant was later arrested and charged with: Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable for up to six months, a fine not to exceed $500 or both imprisonment and fine; and, Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. The defendant was held without bail. (Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor involved.) According to the court affidavit, the incident occurred at approximately 6:40 p.m., at the family's residence. Police allege that the defendant and his girlfriend, with whom he had been in a relationship and living together for approximately five years, became involved in a heated argument over the whereabouts of the woman's 24-year-old daughter, who had reportedly been staying at her boyfriend's residence for about two weeks. Investigators say the argument quickly escalated. The defendant allegedly became increasingly aggressive, yelling profanities at the woman while throwing household items around the room and punching nearby objects. Officers said the victim reported that the defendant's behavior became more violent as the argument continued. The woman told investigators that the defendant then retrieved a knife, displayed it in front of her, and threatened to kill her adult daughter and the daughter's boyfriend that same night. The woman said she feared the threats were genuine because of the defendant's aggressive behavior during the confrontation. Police noted that the alleged threats were made in the presence of the woman's 11-year-old daughter, who witnessed the argument. Investigators say the child later provided a written statement confirming that she saw the defendant holding the knife while making the threats. She also stated that before leaving the residence, the defendant pointed the knife at her mother's face and slammed the door as he exited. The woman told officers that the incident was not an isolated occurrence. According to police, she explained that the defendant had displayed violent behavior in the past and that arguments inside the home had become an ongoing concern. She said that while previous incidents had frightened her, the defendant's actions that evening were more aggressive than before and caused her to fear for her own safety as well as the safety of her children. Later that evening, at approximately 7:13 p.m., the woman went to the Tafuna Police Substation accompanied by one of her sons to report the incident. During an interview with investigators, she described the knife as a small cutting knife measuring approximately six to eight inches in length with a green handle. Although the defendant later claimed it was a pool cue knife belonging to a friend, the woman told officers she believed it was an ordinary household knife that the defendant regularly used around the residence. Investigators also learned that although the defendant had lived with the woman for approximately five years, none of her children were biologically related to him. Officers reported that the woman appeared visibly shaken and emotional while providing her statement. Court documents stated that investigators observed tears in her eyes and noted that she appeared genuinely fearful throughout the interview. She reportedly told police that she was afraid of what the defendant might do if he returned to the residence and expressed concern for the safety of all of her children. The woman told officers that she wished to pursue criminal charges and stated that she no longer wanted to continue the relationship because of the defendant's repeated violent behavior. She also told investigators that she believed the defendant was using illegal drugs, although she did not believe he was intoxicated [high] during the incident itself. Police advised the woman to contact the court to obtain a restraining order against the defendant. She acknowledged the advice and also completed a written statement documenting the events. While officers were interviewing the woman, her son also gave a statement. He explained that he had been in a separate building on the property with relatives when he suddenly heard his mother screaming from inside the main house. He immediately ran to the residence to see what had happened. According to his statement, he found his mother and the defendant arguing about the whereabouts of his older sister. He told investigators that disagreements over the same issue had occurred before, but that this argument appeared far more intense than previous incidents. By the time he entered the room, however, the defendant had already began leaving the residence. The son also disclosed that approximately one or two months earlier he had found what he believed to be a methamphetamine pipe inside the bedroom shared by his mother and the defendant. The information was documented as part of the investigation. After obtaining the defendant's description and possible location from the victim, officers immediately notified patrol units. The victim informed police that the defendant had gone to the Lagoon Taxi Stand in Nu'uuli and described the clothing he was wearing. At approximately 7:53 p.m., patrol officers located the defendant at the reported location. He was detained without incident and transported to the TPS for questioning. After arriving at the station, investigators advised the defendant of his constitutional rights. He acknowledged that he understood his rights and agreed to provide a statement. During the interview, the defendant admitted that he and the victim had argued that evening but denied threatening either the woman or her daughter. He stated that he was upset because the woman's adult daughter had been away from the family home for approximately two weeks and he claimed he was simply expressing his disappointment over the situation. The defendant also denied using the knife in a threatening manner. He also stated that the knife belonged to a friend and was used as a pool cue knife. He claimed he had picked it up only to place it inside his cue bag before leaving to play pool and insisted that the victim had misunderstood his actions. Police were unable to recover the knife because the defendant stated that he had already returned it to its owner before officers located him. During questioning, investigators further learned that the defendant was currently serving a term of probation. The defendant admitted that his probation stemmed from a previous disturbance involving the same residence and the same victim. Following the interview, officers determined there was sufficient probable cause to place the defendant under arrest. He was booked at the TPS before being transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility that evening. Several hours later, at approximately 2:00 a.m. on June 23, the woman returned to the police station and submitted a written statement from her 11-year-old daughter. The child's account was consistent with her mother's version of events and corroborated the allegation that the defendant displayed a knife, threatened to kill the woman's adult daughter and her boyfriend, and pointed the knife at the victim before leaving the residence. The defendant is identified as a 42-year-old citizen of Samoa. The affidavit was filed in the District Court on June 24, 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
2026-07-08 17:10:20