Regent Square man charged with robbery jailed in Washington County
A man wanted for the armed robbery of a BP gasoline station in Swissvale, Allegheny County, was being held in Washington County jail on $15,000 cash bond.
Nofofaasumua Brown, 41, also known as Jake Ross, of Regent Square, was charged by Swissvale police late last month in connection with a May 22 holdup at the South Braddock Avenue business.
District Judge Curtis Thompson arraigned Brown on charges of robbery, theft and simple assault Saturday afternoon.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Swissvale police said a customer in the gasoline station was making a purchase so the clerk opened the cash register drawer. At the same time, the robber pointed a handgun at the clerk’s face, reached inside and stole money.
Surveillance video showed the man picking up snack food from a shelf and then replacing it before the robbery. Additional video showed a limousine occupied by two individuals picking up the robber, who dropped a $20 bill on a nearby street. One of the police officers recognized the perpetrator from a previous arrest and identified him as Jake Faleafine, also known as Jake Ross.
Police were analyzing both the recovered $20 bill and the food package for fingerprints. The total stolen from the gas station was $218, according to court documents.
North Strabane Township police took Brown into custody on Saturday, according to an online jail docket. They could not immediately be reached to discuss the circumstances of Brown’s arrest.