Leroy Page decided to represent himself in his case Tuesday, dropping the Allen County Public Defender’s Office.
J Swygart | The Lima News
LIMA — A Lima man signed a waiver of counsel Tuesday to drop the Allen County Public Defender’s Office and represent himself in his case in the Allen County Common Pleas Court.
In a previous hearing, Leroy Page, 34, decided to hold off on representing himself and requested additional time to seek a private attorney. During that hearing, Judge Terri Kohlrieser discussed with Page the steps he would have to take in his case and advised him against representing himself as is required of her by law.
With this decision, public defenders will still be present at every hearing and can step back in to represent Page if he wants it.
Page faces eight felony charges handed down by a grand jury in January ranging from kidnapping and felonious assault to the improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and failing to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred in October 2022. According to a news release from the Allen County Sheriff’s Office at the time, Page was involved in a vehicle pursuit on Oct. 30, 2022, with the Lima Police Department when he crashed the vehicle near the intersection of West Elm Street and Fraunfelter Road. He reportedly fled the scene and forced his way into a residence on Fraunfelter Road where he “continuously assaulted” the homeowners for about two hours before forcing the residents to drive him to the intersection of Yoakam Road and West Breese Road. Page then fled the area, according to the report.
Page was apprehended in Las Vegas on July 31 and was extradited to Allen County.
Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.
