ARLINGTON, Texas -- The owner of a home vandalized with a spray-painted racial slur was cited for assault Wednesday, accused by police of pushing a city worker who was removing the graffiti.

Police said a 43-year-old graffiti abatement worker was trying to get rid of the bright red paint on the home's white garage doors when Broderick Gamble interfered. An officer stationed nearby saw Gamble assault the woman, said Lt. Blake Miller, a spokesman for Arlington police.

"This lady that was assaulted was, again, just trying to do her job, remove the graffiti as part of the judge's order," Miller said.

Gamble was accused of assault by bodily contact, police said. He faces a $500 fine.

Gamble said he did not assault anyone. His girlfriend, Etha Kay "Silk" Littlejohn, also disputed Arlington police's account of what happened.

"An officer told him that he did not see him assault anyone -- they just saw bodies moving," Silk said. "The main issue about this is that the city has not been just."

Code enforcement workers had a warrant signed by a judge to remove the offensive words from the home, Miller said.

City officials sought to get rid of the graffiti by filing a lawsuit earlier this month against Gamble and Littlejohn, the homeowners.

The graffiti was spray painted on the couple's house in late December, days after a neighbor allegedly struck Littlejohn in the head with a 2-by-4.

The couple rejected some of their neighbors' requests and the city's offer to remove the racist graffiti. Gamble said he wanted people to see the stark symbol of hatred.

Earlier this year, KSKY radio host Mike Gallagher and his wife pledged $500 and then raised nearly $4,000 to replace the graffiti-covered garage doors. Although Gamble picked up the new doors, they were not installed, the station has said.

The couple said they placed a tarp over the racial slurs. But city officials said an ordinance required them to remove, not just cover, the graffiti,

"Our patience has run out," Mayor Robert Cluck said. "We have every right to do what we've done this morning. We gave them every opportunity to abate the graffiti."

Police haven't found who spray painted the words "Kill." "Die (N-word)." The case remains open, Miller said.

Grace Head was charged with attacking Littlejohn and faces aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief charges. Both were filed as hate crimes.