A wanted fugitive from the Salt Lake area and his girlfriend were arrested last week in the Fruitland area where they were found hiding out. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office was made aware that fugitive Pohiva Fatafehi was suspected to be hiding in Duchesne County and that he was known to be armed and dangerous. On July 12th, detectives and deputies responded to the area of Current Creek Meadows in an attempt to locate Fatafehi and were given a tip to check a certain camp trailer. Officers surrounded the trailer and commanded anyone inside to exit. Fatafehi’s girlfriend, 23-year-old Meliame Angilau, exited the trailer. After being given more commands, Fatafehi eventually exited the trailer and was placed into custody. In addition to drug paraphernalia in plain sight, a search of the trailer revealed blank checks, a printer, multiple IDs belonging to other people, personal documents with Social Security numbers and bank accounts belonging to other individuals, methamphetamine, prescription drugs belonging to another individual, and additional drug paraphernalia. Angilau told detectives that they had taken the checks and other items from a house they had lived in before coming to the Fruitland area. Fatafehi was booked into Duchesne County Jail on active warrants before being released to the Springville Police Department. He was taken to the Utah County Jail on charges of kidnapping and burglary. Angilau was booked into the Duchesne County Jail on over 21 charges, including drug related offenses, theft, and felony charges related to the forgery and unlawful possession of financial cards. Officers noted that if the suspect is released from custody it is likely she will flee this jurisdiction and continue to take others personal documents for monetary gain. It was ordered that she be held without bail. Her initial appearance in court was held on July 15th.
