Man arrested for alleged assault claims girlfriend kept his documents from him

By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 29, 2026, a victim contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that her boyfriend allegedly assaulted her with a PVC pipe. The suspect was later apprehended and charged with: Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both imprisonment and fine; and, Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both. The defendant’s bail was set at $500. According to the court affidavit, police were dispatched to a residence in Nu'uuli at approximately 4:30 p.m. after receiving a report from a woman who said her boyfriend was attempting to force his way into their home while threatening to assault her. The responding officer arrived at the residence at approximately 4:38 p.m. As officers approached the property, they observed a visibly distressed woman who waved them down. The woman was later identified as the victim. She immediately informed officers that the suspect, Mati’a Paulo had assaulted her earlier that morning and had now returned, and was attempting to break into the residence while threatening to beat her. The victim explained that she and Paulo have been in a relationship since 2020 and have lived together for several years. The couple rents a residence in Nu'uuli and, according to the victim, no one else lives with them. She also told investigators that she is the primary earner in the relationship — paying the rent and covering the household's daily expenses. The couple has no children together. According to the victim, the incident began shortly after 1:00 a.m. when Paulo asked to see her cellphone. She refused because she had discovered messages from another woman who referred to Paulo as "Babe." Investigators say the refusal angered Paulo. The victim told police that Paulo grabbed her by her right leg, pulled her toward him, and struck her twice on the buttocks with a white PVC pipe approximately the length of an adult's arm. After allegedly hitting her, Paulo reportedly forcefully took possession of her cellphone. Court documents indicated the alleged assault occurred inside the couple's residence during the early morning hours while they were alone. The victim told officers there were no witnesses. Following the incident, the victim reportedly left the apartment later that morning, locking the residence before she departed. When she returned later in the day, she refused to allow Paulo back inside. According to investigators, Paulo remained outside the residence for several hours before allegedly attempting to force his way into the home. The victim told police she became frightened after Paulo allegedly tried to enter the house against her wishes while threatening to beat her. Fearing the situation would become violent again, she contacted the TPS requesting immediate police assistance. When officers arrived at the residence, Paulo had already left the immediate area. After ensuring the victim's safety, officers transported her to the TPS so she could provide a written statement. Police then began searching nearby locations identified by the victim as places where Paulo was known to spend time. Despite searching those areas, officers were initially unable to locate him. However, while returning through a gravel road near KT Mart, officers observed a man matching Paulo's description walking towards their patrol unit. Another patrol unit in the vicinity assisted in stopping him. Police approached Paulo, informed him of the investigation, and placed him into custody without incident. He was transported to the TPS for questioning. While at the station, investigators conducted a visual examination of the victim's reported injuries. According to the affidavit, officers observed bruising behind the victim’s right leg, which investigators believed was consistent with her statement that Paulo had grabbed and pulled her during the altercation. Although the victim reported being struck twice on her buttocks with a PVC pipe, officers noted they did not observe visible bruising or injuries in that area. Police photographed the visible bruise behind the victim's leg as part of their investigation. Investigators also questioned the victim about the PVC pipe allegedly used during the assault. She informed officers that she had already thrown the pipe away. The victim also declined officers' request to retrieve the item because she feared her landlord would evict her if police vehicles entered the property. She reportedly explained that the property owner does not permit police activity on or near the premises and that she did not want to jeopardize her housing. Court records further stated that the victim required assistance completing her written statement. The victim reportedly informed officers that her eyesight was poor and that she had difficulty writing clearly. One of the officers then assisted her by writing portions of the statement based on the information she provided while ensuring the contents accurately reflected her account of the incident. After arriving at the station, Paulo was escorted to an interview room where he was Mirandized. Paulo acknowledged that he understood his rights and voluntarily agreed to provide both verbal and written statements. Paulo admitted that he and the victim argued during the early morning hours. However, he disputed portions of the victim's account. Instead of using a PVC pipe, Paulo claimed he grabbed the wooden handle from a broom and struck her only once on the buttocks. He denied hitting her twice. Paulo also stated that after the argument, the victim left with the key to the residence, leaving him locked outside for most of the day. He admitted attempting to open the door with a knife because he wanted to enter the home to shower after waiting outside for several hours. The defendant denied threatening the victim and insisted he had done nothing wrong. During his interview with investigators, Paulo also raised issues unrelated to the assault allegation. He claimed he wanted to return to Upolu but alleged the victim had torn his passport up, and refused to return his identification card and Social Security card. The affidavit does not indicate whether officers investigated those claims during the course of the domestic violence investigation. Following the interview, investigators determined there was sufficient probable cause to arrest Paulo. He was booked at the TPS before being transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he was confined pending his initial appearance before the District Court. The case remains before the court as criminal proceedings continue. The defendant is identified as a 31-year-old citizen of Samoa. The affidavit was filed in the District Court on June 30, 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
2026-07-10 18:19:12