Ethnic intimidation charges were filed Wednesday against a man accused of recording a video that includes racist language at the Rostraver Walmart store, according to state police.
They say the video was recorded by Michael Todora, 36, of Speers, Washington County.
Troopers have been investigating the video, which was posted on social media, for the past few weeks.
The video shows a white man approach a Black woman in the grocery section of the store and, after confirming her name, ask her questions. The man, filming himself and the woman, uses racist language during the interaction. The woman is seen in the video walking away, requesting security and repeatedly saying “get away from me.”
The man then approaches two other Black people shopping for groceries and asks a question before the recording ends, police said.
The woman in the video, Augusta “Queenie” Goll, posted the recording on her own social media page, calling attention to the incident, state police said in a criminal complaint. The video was taken Dec. 21, and police said Todora posted it in January. Goll is an immigrant and a business owner in Charleroi.
Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said the investigation is continuing. Todora is charged with ethnic intimidation, harassment and disorderly conduct. The charges are being sent by summons. A preliminary hearing is set for March 6. Todora did not have an attorney listed in online court records. He did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
The Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations welcomed the charges as a step toward accountability, according to a statement from Executive Director Christine Mohamed.
“Acts of racial intimidation are not harmless speech,” Mohamed said in a statement. “They are meant to demean, threaten and silence. When prosecutors take these cases seriously, it sends a clear message that hate-based harassment has real consequences and will not be tolerated in our communities.”
Todora also was cited Monday in Washington County by state police in connection with an incident that happened at 1440 Foods in Fallowfield. Troopers said in a news release that Todora entered the business property Dec. 12, video recorded himself harassing employees and posted the video on social media. He believed the employees were Haitian, police said.
Todora is cited with harassment and defiant trespass in that case. No court action has been scheduled.
Walmart Interaction Update. For immediate release. pic.twitter.com/KrsyA6hO2N
— Troopers Gagliardi and Barnhart (@PSPTroopBPIO) February 4, 2026
