Hearing continued for Metamora man who ran into house, deputies' cruisers

NAPOLEON — A preliminary hearing has been continued for a Metamora man charged with intentionally striking a house near Liberty Center several times last week with his vehicle, then causing minor injuries to two investigating sheriff’s deputies.

Mark Szabo, 47, Metamora, was being held this week in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio on 24 charges — including nine felonies — related to the incident on May 3 on Henry County Road W in Liberty Township.

He had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday in municipal court, but this has been postponed until May 16. Bond had been set at $1 million.

A press release issued by the sheriff’s office noted that deputies were called to a residence on Road W to handle a call involving a person who had crashed a vehicle into the home “multiple times” before leaving. He returned and allegedly ran into two sheriff’s cruisers, causing minor injuries to two deputies, according to a press release.

A preliminary hearing in municipal court would only determine whether there is probable cause to detain Szabo as charged. He also is subject to a possible grand jury indictment in Henry County Common Pleas Court.