Man allegedly tries to kiss woman inside local supermarket

By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 31, 2026, a disturbing incident inside a supermarket in Pago Pago ended with the arrest of Daniel Lauama, who allegedly forcibly grabbed a woman from behind and attempted to kiss her in public, causing her to suffer an injury while she was trying to escape. The defendant was later charged with: Count 1: 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 imprisonment and fine; and, Count 2: Public Peace Disturbance (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not to exceed $500, or both. The defendant was held without bail. According to court records, police officers at the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) received a call at approximately 12:23 p.m. reporting that a woman was struggling with an unknown man inside a supermarket in Pago Pago. The caller told authorities that the suspect had allegedly approached the woman without warning and attempted to kiss her against her will. When officers arrived at the store, they were met by the reporting witness, who directed them to the woman involved in the incident. Officers separated the witness and the victim in order to gather independent statements about what had taken place. According to the witness, the suspect entered the supermarket and began following the woman through the store. At first, his behavior did not appear unusual, but the situation quickly escalated. The witness told investigators he saw the suspect suddenly approach the woman from behind, grab hold of her, and force himself on her in an apparent attempt to kiss her. The woman reportedly fought back immediately, struggling to break free from the suspect’s grip. During the confrontation, she managed to shake him off and flee, but in the chaos, she collided with a metal shelf inside the store, striking her head and injuring her ear. Authorities said her ear later began bleeding as a result of the impact. Despite suffering an injury, the victim declined medical treatment when officers asked if she needed medical assistance. In her written statement to police, the woman said she had been standing at the checkout area preparing to pay for her items when the suspect came up behind her unexpectedly, grabbed her shoulder, and tried to kiss her on the neck. She said she attempted to pull away, but the suspect continued forcing her shoulder toward him, and she felt him kiss her neck before she was able to break free and run. By the time officers began searching the area, the suspect had already fled the scene. Investigators then turned to surveillance footage from inside the supermarket. Store management cooperated with police and provided video recordings of the incident. After reviewing the footage, officers were able to positively identify the suspect as Daniel Lauama. Police later traveled to Lauama’s residence, where he was located, arrested, and taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the FPS for booking before later being confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility pending his appearance in District Court. Court filings note that this was not the first time Lauama had allegedly displayed troubling behavior in public. The incident has raised concern over public safety and unwanted sexual or aggressive behavior in places where residents expect to go about their daily routines without fear of harassment or assault. The defendant is identified as a 38-year-old U.S National. The affidavit was filed in the District Court on April 02, 2026. [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.] Section: Local News Tags: court report
2026-04-30 18:30:13