A North Side family that says it has endured years of harassment is once again at the center of a police investigation, after flyers with personal details and threatening antisemitic language were scattered outside their Pittsburgh home early Sunday morning. The incident comes on the heels of a January vandalism case in which the family’s Israeli flag was slashed, a crime that led to an arrest last week as community groups rallied to support the household.
Flyers Left Outside Home
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the homeowner report that multiple copies of the same flyer were left outside the residence, each containing personal information paired with antisemitic slurs. Speaking to WTAE, Shawn Brokos of the federation described the material as “very personal in nature” and “threatening.”
Flag Slashed In January
According to Pittsburgh’s public safety blotter, plainclothes detectives began investigating in January after security footage recorded a man slashing an Israeli flag on the 1500 block of Buena Vista Street on Jan. 17. The City of Pittsburgh reports the suspect pulled up in an older white pickup, concealed the license plate, then drove off after damaging the flag.
Suspect Identified And Charged
Investigators say a combination of traffic-camera checks and private surveillance footage led them to identify 34-year-old Ivo Stjepovic as the suspect in the flag incident, after which an arrest warrant was issued. He is charged with ethnic intimidation and criminal mischief. As reported by CBS Pittsburgh, officers attempted to reach Stjepovic before seeking the warrant based on the evidence they had gathered.
Community Response
Neighbors and local organizations have denounced the harassment and offered steady support to the family, which community security officials say has been targeted repeatedly over several years. In a statement published by WTAE, the homeowner thanked the broader community for standing with her family and warned that these latest incidents heighten concerns for their safety.
Legal Status
The person seen in the January video is formally charged with ethnic intimidation and criminal mischief and is set to appear in court on Feb. 24, according to WPXI. Prosecutors and police say the case remains active while investigators continue to follow up on leads and evaluate additional surveillance footage.
How To Help
Pittsburgh police are urging anyone with information to contact Zone 1 detectives, with specific phone numbers and tip instructions listed on the city’s public safety blotter. The City of Pittsburgh asks residents to call (412) 323-7201 with any details that might assist the investigation.
