The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Thursday, June 1, 2000


FARRELL

Victim says his brother, alleged shooter fought

By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer

Brian Pleasant said he just wanted to know what was going on between his brother, Clem Ragster, and Damascus Simone Savage when Savage shot him last month.

Pleasant testified Wednesday at Savage’s preliminary hearing on charges that he shot Pleasant three times.

Pleasant said Ragster had told him that he and Savage were involved in an incident earlier that evening but didn’t detail the nature of whatever happened.

“He didn’t say nothing about what they were talking about,” Pleasant told defense attorney Stephen Delpero. “He just said they had gotten out of jail.”

Pleasant, 31, of 374 Quinby St., Sharon, was waiting in his girlfriend’s car at about 12:50 a.m. May 6 outside Roamer’s Bar, Roemer Boulevard, Farrell, when Ragster walked up and told him about the incident, Pleasant said.

Pleasant’s fiancé, Rolaunda Townsend, had gone inside to get food they had ordered. When she returned they realized they didn’t have any forks, and Ragster went in to get them. While Pleasant and Ms. Townsend waited, Savage drove by. Pleasant said he started the car; followed Savage, 21, of 913 Wallis Ave., Farrell, onto Lee Avenue; and flashed his lights near Federal Street.

“I wanted to see what was going on between him and my brother,” said Pleasant, adding that he knew Savage “from the streets” and had heard from others that Ragster and Savage had problems. Pleasant said he wasn’t going after Savage and does not carry a gun.

Pleasant said he pulled up beside Savage’s car and asked him, but Savage didn’t respond. They pulled off the side of the road and got out, Pleasant told Assistant District Attorney David Ristvey.

Pleasant said he asked Savage the question again. “He just started rambling on about this and that, (how) it was none of my business,” Pleasant said.

The men started arguing and Savage reached into his car, Pleasant said. Pleasant said he knew what Savage was getting “when I heard the bullets flying past me.” Pleasant never saw a gun, just sparks. “That’s when I realized he was shooting at me.” The first bullets whizzed by and hit a building. Then one caught Pleasant’s arm and another hit his other arm, he said.

Pleasant told Savage: “You got this one,” meaning that he had won the argument, and started running across Lee Avenue away from the car because his fiancé was inside.

Pleasant felt another bullet hit him in the back and he fell face down into the street, he said. Savage walked up to him and stood over him with the gun pointed at him, Pleasant said. “I told him, ‘Don’t shoot me,’ ” Pleasant said.

Savage went to Ms. Townsend’s car and pointed the gun at her, then went back to his own car and left, Pleasant said.

Pleasant got up and went to Ms. Townsend’s car and she drove him to UPMC Horizon, Farrell, where he was operated on. Two slugs were removed but one is still lodged in his arm, he said. Pleasant spent eight days in the hospital.

District Justice Henry J. Russo, Hermitage, held for court charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and possessing instruments of crime. Savage was returned to Mercer County Jail after failing to post $50,000 bond.



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