Waynesboro woman arrested for pepper spray attack

The Waynesboro Police Department arrested a city woman on a felony charge after she used pepper spray during a domestic disturbance Sunday afternoon.

Officers charged Justine Daria Richards, 24 years old, with one count of unlawfully releasing noxious or nauseating gases with the intent to cause bodily injury. On Sunday at approximately 2:40 p.m., officers along with the Waynesboro First Aid Crew responded to Summercrest Apartments located off West Main Street for a report of an assault involving pepper spray.  When they arrived, they spoke with the 28-year-old victim who stated he was having an argument with his ex-girlfriend’s mother in the parking lot when his ex-girlfriend, Richards, interceded by spraying him with pepper spray.

He claimed that the overspray also affected his current girlfriend and her 3-year-old son who were nearby. Richards told officers that she used pepper spray on her ex-boyfriend because she was fearful that he was going to injure her mom.

All of three victim were treated by WFAC at the scene.  No injuries were noted.  Richards is free on a personal recognizance bond.