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*Attached video: Fallen officer’s parents speak on suspect’s mental health: I-Team
CLEVELAND (WJW) — Parents of murdered Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter, as well as Cleveland Police Union officials, are demanding to know what is happening with the suspect who was sent to a state mental hospital last year to be restored to competency.
A five-hour hearing was held on Friday in the Cuyahoga County Courtroom of Judge Ashley Kilbane to determine if Delawnte Hardy caused the delay of his treatment by refusing to take his prescribed medication for months. Hardy is accused of killing his own grandmother and Officer Jamieson Ritter in July of 2024.
“I think that hearing left us with more questions than answers,” said Andy Gasiewski, Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President. “Is he getting the treatment he needs so he can be competent? That’s not clear.”
Ritter’s parents also expressed their frustration.
“It’s discouraging to come here for a five-hour hearing and have arguments,” Karen Ritter said. “What has been happening there?”
Ritter’s parents were also upset by a delay in the hearing after an attorney representing the hospital raised concerns about Hardy’s doctors testifying. She added that the doctor’s reports to the courts were confidential, and the legal team at the hospital was not properly notified about the hearing.
“I was a police officer for 25 years, and I never saw anything like this,” said Jon Ritter, Jamieson’s father. “I never saw an attorney for a hospital tell a doctor they can’t testify. I don’t know what is going on at that hospital. I am concerned. Everyone in Ohio should be concerned.”
Gasiewski agreed.
“I didn’t understand how the attorney was trying to not have the doctors talk,” Gasiewski said. “This is a murder case.”
After about a 30-minute delay, Judge Kilbane ruled the doctors were permitted to testify and that the court is not required to notify the legal team of the hospital.
Last fall, Hardy was found incompetent to stand trial and was sent for inpatient treatment at Central Ohio Behavioral Health in Columbus. The state has one year for Hardy to be restored to competency. If he is not found competent by Oct. 22, he could remain indefinitely institutionalized.
Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Kevin Filiatraut is asking Judge Kilbane to extend the time for Hardy to be deemed competent, saying that Hardy delayed his treatment by failing to take his medicine for five months.
Doctors said Hardy started taking his medications last March after the court ordered “forced” medications. Hardy’s attorneys, however, object to any extension, saying even though Hardy did not take the medications, he did take part in other forms of treatment, such as mental health classes.
But during the hearing, the prosecutor asked the doctor if Hardy needed his medication to treat the delusions, and the doctor said “yes.”
The doctor also testified that Hardy is reportedly still having delusions but has indicated he does want to become competent to stand trial.
Ritter’s parents and the union president said they also want to know more about a July report from the hospital that indicated that in April, Hardy may have taken drugs that were not prescribed to him. He was taken to the ER for treatment.
“A two-page report dated 7/10/25 referencing ‘a few episodes two months ago’ that ultimately necessitated the transfer to the emergency room,” Judge Kilbane’s court docket reads. “It further states that ‘at the time of these incidents, there was a suspicion that [defendant] was taking substances other than what were prescribed for him.’ The report briefly states that ‘exhaustive searches’ were conducted. A determination was made that the substance entered the facility through mail delivery to another patient, who ‘was sharing those substances with Mr. Hardy,’ who was ‘chewing these papers to get high.’ That protocol changes were made, and thereafter that, ‘all instance of suspected substance intoxication on the unit was stopped.’”
The Fox 8 I-Team asked hospital officials last week if they had requested an outside agency to investigate, but were told no contraband was found, so an outside agency was not asked to investigate.
Ritter’s family and police union officials said they want to know how the hospital determined Hardy did not take any other drugs and who investigated the incident.
“It’s disturbing,” Jon Ritter said. “Who is investigating? This needs to be investigated.”
The hearing is expected to reconvene one day this week. The judge did not indicate when a decision may be made.
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Peggy Gallek
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