Nov 4, 2016 2 min read

North Strabane Township police charged three people, including a mother and son, for allegedly hiding a man wanted in Allegheny County on charges that include robbery.

Gina M. Pietosi, 39, of Pittsburgh, is charged with obstructing justice. Judith A. Hersh, 62, and her 45-year-old son, Donald Hersh, both of 915 Carol Drive, are charged with hindering apprehension.

On Oct. 8, North Strabane police received information from Swissvale police that Nofofassumuaga Brown, 41, of the Regent Square neighborhood of Pittsburgh, might be staying at the Carol Drive home with his girlfriend, identified as Pietosi. Brown, who also goes by Jake Ross, was wanted for a May 22 armed robbery of a convenience store.

Police went to the house and attempted to serve the warrant. Police said they saw Donald Hersh look out a window and told him to open the back door. After police knocked for about 10 minutes, Hersh, his mother and Pietosi came out the back door.

All three allegedly denied that Brown was at the residence. Judith Hersh initially said no one else was at the house, then said Brown had run, before admitting he might still be in the residence, police said. Pietosi allegedly denied knowing Brown, before telling police that he had been there but fled. Police said Donald Hersh refused to answer questions. He then told police that Brown was there, and the two woman admitted he was downstairs. Police said they spotted Brown opening a window at the front of the house. Brown was ordered outside and taken into custody. Police said it appeared that Brown and Pietosi had been at the Carol Drive house for some time. Officers also learned that Brown was wanted on warrants by Pittsburgh police.

Charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller. Preliminary hearings for the three are scheduled for next month before Weller.