Greensburg woman charged with ethnic intimidation says 3 men were 'acting up'

A Greensburg woman is facing charges after authorities said she sprayed three men with a pressure washer Sunday and then referred to them using a racial slur when she called police to report they were “acting up,” according to court papers.

Brenda L. Wagner, 53, is charged with ethnic intimidation, criminal mischief and harassment.

The three roommates, who live on Harrison Avenue, told police that one of them was arguing with Wagner, who lives near them on O’Hara Street, after he went to get something from his vehicle. The other two came to his aid and the trio said Wagner sprayed them with a pressure washer after yelling obscenities regarding their race, according to court papers.

One of the three said his vision was temporarily impaired as a result of the water and his iPhone was damaged. Police said the men are Black. Wagner is white.

A police dispatcher told investigators that Wagner called the station to make a report and used the racial slur. When the dispatcher told her she was on a recorded line, Wagner replied “I don’t give a (expletive),” police wrote in court papers.

Wagner told a reporter Wednesday that she has been harassed by the three and denied the allegations. She referred to an issue with a vehicle that has been parked on O’Hara Street.

The charges were filed Tuesday and were mailed by summons. An Oct. 20 preliminary hearing is set.