Five men accused of assaulting two off-duty police officers in the McDonald’s parking lot early last Sunday morning made initial appearances in District Court, Monday.
Faamanu Malivao, Sai Laasaga, Tony Toma, Filipo Atonio, and Anitele’a Tuilagi are charged with misdemeanor counts of third degree assault and public peace disturbance.
According to court information, one of the defendants, Anitele’a Tuilagi, had approached officer Vegas Pearson outside the Bowling Alley and asked if he was a cop. When Pearson said yes, Tuilagi asked, “You want to be a tough guy?” To which the off duty officer replied, “It’s up to you.”
According to Pearson, four other men surrounded him and a friend, at which point his friend pulled him to go back inside.
Pearson said after leaving the Bowling Alley he and another off-duty Officer, Seugalupe Leone, went to get food at McDonalds and the same guys he saw in the Bowling Alley parking lot, approached them in an aggressive manner.
He said they were pinned between two cars and the defendants started assaulting them. They tried to defend themselves because they were outnumbered.
Officer Leone gave the same account of what happened and said bystanders were able to pull away their attackers, just as one was about to throw rocks at them.
The defendants were picked up at the Silva Compound at the Industrial Park several hours later and, according to police, they smelled of alcohol.
According to police, one of the defendants said that Tuilagi was the one who insisted they go to McDonald’s to deal with the cops.
Bail for each defendant is set at $500.
