POCATELLO After a lady claimed that a guy had broken into her home and abducted and abused her, the offender was taken into custody.
First-degree stalking, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, grand theft, and misdemeanors of false imprisonment and refusing or obstructing officers are among the charges against 27-year-old Sam Sailiata.
Court filings state that when a lady allegedly called 911 and simply gave her address, Pocatello Police officers were dispatched to a residence.
The woman continuously winked at the officers when they arrived, giving them the impression that she was the 911 caller even though she denied making the call.
She informed the officers that Sailiata was concealed behind a barrier on the patio as they walked her down the street.
According to police accounts, he crept passed the victim on his hands and knees into the house while officers were searching for him. He stayed there until officers arrived and took him into custody.
Before being taken to the Bannock County Jail, Sailiata allegedly made several attempts to elude the authorities.
The victim claimed in an interview that Sailiata had begun yelling “baby” and banged on the door while she was asleep in the living room. According to the victim, Sailiata started to go around the home, knocking on the windows and threatening to smash them out while she remained silent.
The victim was afraid of Sailiata and what he might do, so she tried to unlock the front door to leave the house when he knocked on the back door.
According to the victim, Sailiata entered the house before she could get out, threw her to the ground, tore her clothing, and prevented her from leaving.
The victim claimed that Sailiata was making motions as though he were going to strike her many times while holding a metal bar above his head. Then, according to reports, he flung the bar onto the ground beside her and took a pistol from a bag he had.
According to police sources, Sailiata started pointing the revolver at the victim. The victim said that Sailiata had stolen the gun, which was hers.
The woman informed the authorities that she was worried he would seriously hurt her because he had attempted to do so before.
The victim claims that in an attempt to soothe him, she started talking to Sailiata in a kind manner and inquired about a facial injury. Before dropping the revolver and leaving the victim, Sailiata explained that he had just been in a bar fight.
In the hopes that Sailiata wouldn’t notice because of his degree of intoxication, the victim says police she swiftly took the revolver and concealed it in a closet. Then she asked him if he wanted to go smoke cigarettes outside. The victim contacted 911 and provided them with her address as he was waiting for her outside.
The victim was placed under a no-contact order, and Sailiata was arrested on a $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 14 after entering a not guilty plea to the misdemeanor counts.
Sailiata can spend up to 35 years behind bars if found guilty.
Sailiata may not have done these offenses, even if he has been charged with them. Until someone is proven guilty, they are all presumed innocent.
