Arnold assistant fire chief and his son face kidnapping charges

An Arnold assistant fire chief and his teenage son are accused of kidnapping the son’s pregnant girlfriend and holding her against her will for over a month, according to court records.

Brian James Gouza, who has been suspended from Arnold Citizens Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, said the allegations are untrue.

“There’s proof to the contrary,” Gouza said. “She was on social media. I have witnesses, including family, that say that that’s not true.”

The woman told police she escaped Oct. 30 after New Kensington police were called to the Gouzas’ home to investigate a reported domestic dispute, according to criminal complaints filed in the case.

The following week, on Nov. 4, the woman told Arnold police Officer Ryan Clark she wanted to file a police report against Brian James Gouza, 47, and Brian “Nick” Gouza, 16, for assault. The elder Gouza said the woman who made the report to police is his son’s ex-girlfriend.

“She was my son’s girlfriend up until last Friday,” Gouza said Tuesday.

The woman told Clark she was at an apartment on Arnold’s Leishman Avenue about 10:30 p.m. Sept. 3 when she received a flurry of phone calls from the Gouzas. She said Nick Gouza called her 19 times, and the elder Gouza called 30 times, but she refused to answer.

After that, the woman said, the Gouzas arrived at the apartment, came inside without her permission and forced her to leave. Surveillance video shared with police appeared to show Nick Gouza screaming at her to walk and, when she refused, picking her up over his shoulder and carrying her down the stairs, the complaints said.

The woman said after they got downstairs, Nick Gouza threw her into the back seat of his father’s car. She said Brian Gouza got into the car and drove them to his home on New Kensington’s Woodmont Avenue.

Brian Gouza said the woman and his son had a fight, but no assault took place.

“They did have a fight, but there wasn’t really any violence going on,” Brian Gouza said. “There was no assault.”

The woman told Clark she didn’t report what happened sooner because she had been held in the Gouzas’ residence and they kept a constant watch on her, according to the complaints.

Brian Gouza said the woman had been living at his home before the alleged incident took place and had mail delivered there. He said she also spent part of her time at her mother’s house, staying there three days a week when she drove to Pittsburgh and Monroeville for school.

“I’ve done nothing but try to help this girl since she started seeing my son and needed a place to live,” Brian Gouza said.

Arnold Mayor Joe Bia said Brian Gouza has been suspended from his position with the fire company pending the outcome of the case. Police Chief Eric Doutt didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.

“It’s upsetting,” Brian Gouza said of the suspension. “I’ve spent almost 30 years of my life helping the public.”

Both Gouzas have been charged with burglary, kidnapping, conspiracy, unlawful restraint and false imprisonment. The younger Gouza also faces a charge of simple assault, according to online court records.

Clark said Nick Gouza is being charged as an adult , according to the complaint.

Both are free on $25,000 unsecured bond. No attorneys were listed for either man in online court records.