Man accused of killing Cleveland officer ruled incompetent to stand trial: I-Team

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team has confirmed the defendant accused of killing Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter has been found incompetent to stand trial.

According to court officials, a judge on Thursday ruled that Delwante Hardy was incompetent to stand trial and must go to an inpatient treatment facility. Officials believe Hardy can be restored to competency with a course of treatment.

Hardy is accused of killing officer Ritter on July 4. He is also accused of murdering his own grandmother.

Last month, the I-Team got video of Hardy trying to escape the Cuyahoga County jail.

The courts provide time for suspects ruled incompetent to undergo treatment toward becoming mentally fit to stand trial.

The I-Team was also first to report that another murder suspect was ruled incompetent to stand trial for the murder of a child outside of a North Olmsted grocery store.

The Cuyahoga County court docket shows the case against Bionca Ellis is now on hold.

In June, police arrested Ellis for attacking 3-year-old Julian Wood and his mother outside a grocery store in North Olmsted. Police said Ellis stabbed the child to death.

The court docket shows Ellis was referred to North Coast Behavioral Health for a 20-day evaluation. And, “in the confidential report…the doctor opined that the defendant is incompetent to stand trial.”

The docket also shows, “there is a substantial probability of restoration to competency within the statutory time frame if provided with a course of treatment.”

In this case, the docket also shows Ellis has been ordered to stay in the mental health facility and “the defendant is ordered to cooperate with all prescribed medication.”

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