Thursday, May 26, 2011
Staff report
WARREN
William J. Exline, 31, of Skoplee Street, Girard, accused of stabbing a Girard police officer May 4, has entered a plea of innocent by reason of insanity.
Exline was indicted on charges of felonious assault and aggravated robbery and entered an innocent plea last week in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. One day later, his attorney, Samuel Bluedorn, filed a notice with the court asking for a determination of whether Exline is competent to stand trial because of his mental health.
Girard police said they went to a home on Skoplee in response to a call of a man beating on a door and found Exline, who then fled on foot. Officer Tim O’Leary caught Exline in a field a short distance away, but Exline cut the officer on the side of the face and ear, apparently with a pocket knife from his pants, police said.
O’Leary and another officer then arrested Exline, and O’Leary received treatment at St. Elizabeth Health Center.