Apr. 18—LIMA — Less than a month away from his scheduled jury trial, a Lima man serving as his own attorney alleges he is being rushed to justice.
Leroy Page, 24, is scheduled to stand trial May 12 for leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase that ended in Lima in 2022. He is alleged to have fled the scene and assaulted two area residents as he hid from police.
Page appeared in Allen County Common Pleas Court for a final pre-trial hearing Friday as prosecutors attempted to wrap up a few looses ends in the case. A lengthy discussion took place surrounding a handwritten motion submitted by Page on Thursday in which he seeks to suppress an interview conducted by law enforcement with an alleged victim in the case. In the motion Page contends that his identification as a suspect in the case was obtained through photos posted on social media and should not be permitted as evidence.
Allen County Prosecuting Attorney Destiny Caldwell objected, saying the motion was filed several months after Judge Terri Kohlrieser established a deadline for the filing of all motions. Page claimed the late filing was necessary because the state had failed to provide discovery documents in a timely fashion. Caldwell provided evidence that was not the case, and Kohlrieser concurred.
“I feel like you’re not giving me the time I need,” Page told the judge. “I feel the court is biased and everything is stacked against me.”
Kohlrieser took the motion to suppress under advisement and said she would rule next week.
Page is charged with having weapons under disability, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, aggravated burglary, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of felonious assault.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Oct. 30, 2022. On that date Page was involved in a vehicle pursuit with the Lima Police Department and crashed his vehicle near the intersection of West Elm Street and Fraunfelter Road. Page 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 court documents.
Page was apprehended in Las Vegas on July 31, 2023, and was extradited back to Allen County. He is being held in the Allen County jail under a $1 million bond.
Caldwell made an offer to Page on Friday that called for the Lima man to plead guilty to two counts of kidnapping, first degree felonies that include specifications labeling Page as a repeat violent offender. The plea deal also would require Page to plead guilty to aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a felony of the fourth degree.
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