Cousins jailed in fight that left two Roscoe sisters in the hospital
Davante Brooks
James Gaston Jr.
What started out as a card game among friends turned into a fight that left two Roscoe sisters in the hospital, police said.
Devante Lemont Brooks, 26, of 316 Hickman St., Bridgeville, and his cousin, James Eric Gaston Jr., 27, of 120 Church St., Washington, were charged by state police following what police said was a September fight with the two women, Kyrstone Beach and Emily Hartley.
Police said the women had picked up Brooks and Gaston in Bentleyville the night of Sept. 22 and brought them to their house in the 300 block of Furlong Avenue in Roscoe. The four of them were playing cards and drinking until Brooks allegedly used drugs and “became agitated,” according to the criminal complaint.
Police said the women told Gaston and Brooks to leave and find a ride home. Brooks allegedly dumped a can of soda on Hartley before punching her in the face, causing her to black out and fall to the ground, the complaint said. He then allegedly kicked her in the head multiple times.
Police said Beach jumped on Brooks’ back, trying to stop him from kicking her sister. Brooks hit Beach in the face with a laptop before Gaston pulled her by her hair and pinned her against a wall, the complaint said.
When the sisters said they were going to call police, the two men took the keys to Beach’s Jeep and left in it, police said. They abandoned the vehicle on the side of the road, the complaint said.
When interviewed by police, Brooks reportedly told police that Hartley hit him first, and Gaston told police that he did not assault or hit anyone.
“Everything happened so fast and because we were drunk,” Gaston said, according to the criminal complaint.
Both Beach and Hartley were treated for injuries at Monongahela Valley Hospital, police said. Hartley had a swollen, black eye, cheek and lip. Beach had a bruise on her arm and cut on her hand. Beach told police that when she went to pick up her Jeep from the towing company, the engine was ruined and it wasn’t drivable.
Brooks was charged with two counts each of simple assault and harassment, aggravated assault, criminal mischief and theft. Gaston was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit theft and harassment. Brooks and Gaston were arraigned by District Judge Larry Hopkins Tuesday morning. Brooks was jailed on $10,000 bond and Gaston on $5,000.