MONONGAHELA (KDKA) — Monongahela police say a man tried to run over his neighbor.

They say it’s not the first time the suspect threatened his neighbor and the incident could turn into a hate crime investigation because the suspect used a racial slur while addressing the victim.

The suspect is 56-year-old Anthony Pellegrino. He was booked Sunday night at the Washington County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Pellegrino showed up at the police station claiming someone shot him. There were bullet holes in his car window, but he was not injured.

The victim, Frank Rhone, was walking his dog on First Avenue when Pellegrino repeatedly tried to run him over.

Rhone fired three shots in self-defense at Pellegrino’s car.

Monongahela Police Chief Brian Tempest said Pellegrino actually started threatening Rhone back in November.

“Mr. Pellegrino left, came back a short while later and said to him, ‘I’m going to report you.’

“And the victim said, ‘I didn’t do anything.’

“And at that time, Mr. Pellegrino pulled out a hatchet and said, ‘This is war, the war is on.’

“So we arrested Mr. Pellegrino and charged him with harassment and other charges related to that incident,” Tempest said.

Pellegrino was still facing charges from the November incident when he was charged on Sunday. He was arrested after he screamed, threw himself on the ground at the police station and said, “Cuff me.”

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