Mother who tried to stop a family fight ends up with injuries
Source: Samoa News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA -- On November 23, 2023, Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a report claiming a man was assaulting his brother-in-law and as a result, he injured his mother.
The defendant, Agape Faumuina, was arrested and charged with the following charges:
Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both.
Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1,000, or both.
Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree (As a C Misd.(DV), a class C misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both.
Bail was set at $1,000.
According to the affidavit, a woman named Dira called the TPS to report that her brother Agape Faumuina had allegedly assaulted her husband and pushed their elderly mother, who was trying to hold Agape back from assaulting her husband.
Police officers were dispatched to Kokoland and upon arrival observed the defendant on the dirt road heading to the scene. Officers apprehended the defendant and placed him inside the unit to be transported to the TPS for further investigation. While transporting the defendant to the TPS, police officers detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from the defendant's breath. Upon arrival at the TPS the defendant was escorted to the EMS station to be treated for his injuries from the incident.
The affidavit stated that police officers then proceeded to the scene to meet up with the reporter and the victim. Upon arrival officers found that the victim, Mr. Maga Mataafa and the reporter had been picked up by EMS and were being transported to the LBJ hospital for further treatment. An officer there used his cell phone to take photos of the injuries to the victim.
Police later proceeded to meet up with an elderly female individual who was identified as the defendant's mother and also a victim.
The mother verbally stated that her son, Agape started to make "unreasonable noises" inside the house and alarming everyone in their household. The defendant then allegedly approached Mr. Mata'afa, his brother-in-law and punched him several times in the facial area and in the torso area.
Allegedly, while Mr. Faumuina was punching Mr. Mata'afa, his mother tried to hold him back; but he pushed his mother away causing her to hit her head on the door-frame. The defendant proceeded to punch Mr. Mata'afa several times in his room and dragged him out of the room towards the outside of the house.
During the altercation, two minor females were present and were in fear when the defendant was assaulting their father.
Mr. Faumuina also damaged the front windows of the house and broke seven louvers and tore the screen wire during the altercation, according to the report.
The mother of the defendant claimed that Mr. Mataafa sustained injuries at the bottom of his left amputated leg and swelling was beginning to be visible on his left arm that is used for dialysis.
She (mother) was treated by the EMS, but refused to be admitted to the LBJ Hospital for further treatment. The officers documented her injuries utilizing a cell phone camera.
The defendant was also treated by the EMSandt refused to be admitted to the LBJ Hospital for further treatment.
He was then booked and taken to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined to await the next available sitting of the District Court.
The defendant is a U.S National and the victims are both citizens of Samoa.