CLEARFIELD – The hearing for a man accused of going on a rampage at a local race track had his preliminary hearing continued for one week at the request of his attorney, John Sughrue.
Richard A. Delisle is charged with five counts of criminal attempt to commit criminal homicde, 14 counts of aggravated assault, 18 counts of simple assault, 29 counts of recklessly endangering another person and related charges.
The incident is alleged to have occurred on July 1 at Gambler’s Raceway Park. According to a prior GantDaily story, court documents show that the Hyde Fire Co. was at the track Sunday to provide fire service when Ron Stiles, deputy fire chief, attempted to speak with Delisle to discuss payment. Stiles and Delisle then got into a verbal argument at which point Stiles said the fire company would leave prior to the end of the race. According to the report filed with Clearfield County Court, Delisle claimed that if the fire company volunteers left, he would “kill them all.”
Delisle, who was leasing the track at the time, then got into his pickup truck and began to pull forward as if he was leaving, according to a report from Lawrence Township Police.
Shawn Owens from Owens Towing was walking between Delisle’s truck and Hyde Fire Co.’s utility truck when Delisle reportedly put his vehicle in reverse, striking Owens in the shin. Owens was partially pulled out of harm’s way by Jared Owens.
Delisle reportedly continued on, backing into the fire company’s truck.
Court papers say Delisle then got out of his truck and aproached the utility truck, telling the four people inside that he was going to kill them.
Delisle then entered his truck and put it in drive. A passenger in the fire truck, Ben Dysard, got out of the utility truck and attempted to speak with Delisle.
Delisle continued driving toward the utility truck with Dysard jumping out of the way to avoid being hit.
Delisle drove forward, hitting the utility truck twice. Four firefighters, Dave Sell, Dawn Sell, Michael Larson and Ben Dysard, were transported to Clearfield Hospital by ambulance for injuries they sustained. Owens was also taken to the hospital by private vehicle.
Delisle reportedly put the vehicle in reverse and drove at a high rate of speed toward the pit area of the race track.
Robert Neeper, a member of Hyde Fire Co., was working as a fire police officer when Delisle used his vehicle to sideswipe Neeper’s personal truck.
Neeper then saw Delisle driving toward the infield where the utility truck was still parked.
Also in the path was Kirby Tucker Sr. and his 10-year-old son and 8-year-old nephew. Neeper saw this and continued to drive into the Delisle truck.
Tucker reported that if the collision had not happened between the two trucks, the children and himself would have been hurt.
Delisle was evaluated by medical personnel at the track, and police reports state that Delisle reportedly told a paramedic that he is aware of the events that happened and would “do the same thing all over again.”
Lawrence Township Police reported that after Delisle was read his rights, he stated that the fire department would get what was coming to them and if they wanted to pursue this, then he would fight back.
Delisle’s hearing is now scheduled for July 18.
