Alcohol was a common factor in public peace disturbance cases before the District Court today.
In Aoa a mother called police to report that her 26 yearold son came home drunk and started cussing and breaking beer bottles in front of their house.
The following day he cut down her clothesline with a machete.
Responding officers smelled alcohol on defendant Rintel Iatala’s breath when they picked him up.
He is charged with public peace disturbance and assault in the third degree.
During his initial appearance today his attorney Assistant Public Defender Ryan Anderson requested a mental evaluation of his client.
District Court Judge Pro Tem Gwen Tauiliili Langkilde ordered that Iatala be held at the LBJ Mental Health Facility for two weeks for an evaluation.
In a separate incident in the same village, Aoa, the Department of Human and Social Services referred a woman to the central police station after her husband allegedly punched her face twice.
The woman said her husband was intoxicated and started arguing with her.
While he was in the police car to be taken in for questioning, officers heard him call his wife and berated her for calling the police.
The cops told him to hang up and he related his version of what happened, claiming it was his wife who started the argument.
When asked if he punched his wife, the defendant said yes,
He was charged with assault 3rd degree and public peace disturbance.
Judge Tauiliili Langkilde ordered that if the defendant is able to pay bail of $300 he would be released with conditions, one of which is to find a place to stay and not make contact with his wife and their three children.
His next court hearing is June 19th.
