19-year-old man charged with rioting and assault after village fire | American Samoa

Pago Pago – American Samoa

On the evening of June 21, 2024, a woman contacted the Tafuna Police Department for help because a 19-year-old man was swearing and throwing beer bottles near his home, injuring a neighbor.

According to government records, government security personnel went to the scene of the accident, witnessed a man injured, and immediately notified emergency personnel to treat the victim.

The victim explained that at 10 o’clock that evening, the accused, Mr. Stone Felicity, was cursing and shouting in front of his (the victim’s) house. This continued until 11 o’clock that evening, when Felicity’s rituals were performed in front of other nearby homes, and by then the people of the village had gathered.

The victim also explained how he had gone and asked Phyllis what he was doing and asked the defendant to go home. But Felix threw a beer bottle at his head, hitting him in the forehead. Phyllis then began to beat the victim and the two had an argument.

The victim’s ancestor came there and asked the defendant to stop and then called the police. The man involved said that this was not the first time Phyllis had done this.

Security also spoke with another witness who explained that he heard a man swearing and yelling loudly in front of his house while preparing to retire for the night. The witness explained that he chased his son in order to tell the man who was making a scene and yelling outside to stop and go home.

But a few seconds later, the witness went to check on his son and saw blood on his face. He then accelerated his son’s struggle with the defendant, but Phyllis’s behavior continued.

Government records do not indicate whether Phyllis was incarcerated that night, nor do they explain the reasons for the defendant’s actions toward the victim and his family.

The charges against Felicia include:

Count 1: Causing a Public Disorder – a Class “B” misdemeanor punishable by six (6) months imprisonment or a $500 fine; or both.

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree – a Class “A” Misdemeanor, punishable by up to one (1) year in prison or a $1,000 fine; or both.

The defendant will be held on $1,000 bail pending trial.