Zaida Pugh, the publicity-mad performance artist who unleashed a plague of insects on a crowded subway car, is “likely’’ to face charges, police sources said Saturday.
Cops would not comment on specific charges, saying they’re still investigating the cricket chaos on a D train Wednesday.
Pugh admitted staging the disgusting stunt, which included her urinating in front of her captive audience.
The crickets were among the only creatures on the car who were completely innocent. At least two pals filmed the upheaval (left), and a third knocked the bugs out of her hands on cue, and sent them flying.
Pugh admitted that she wanted to make a film that would turn her into an Internet sensation.
She also claimed she wanted to bring attention to the plight of homeless people with mental problems.
One nervous passenger not in on the prank pulled the emergency cord, leaving the train stuck on the Manhattan Bridge for a half-hour without air conditioning.
Fellow performance artists said she gave their business a bad name.
Lisa Levy, whose recent performance art involved sitting naked on a toilet to poke fun at art snobs, said, “I wouldn’t do anything so potentially dangerous. I wouldn’t want to put out cops and health workers and scare people that way,’’ she said.
Warning: Graphic language