By Paula Pyzik Scott

A June 23 hearing has been scheduled before Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Reed in the state’s case vs. Ronald Powell, who is charged with allegedly shooting at Bluffton Police Department officers in December 2021.

Powell, age 53, faces five charges including felonious assault, discharge of firearm on or near prohibited premise, failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and having weapons while under disability with firearm.

A December 2021 media release provided by the Allen County Sheriff’s office describes an attempted traffic stop at Jefferson and Huber streets. The vehicle fled from officers and exited the village at high speeds, southbound on Bentley Rd. Powell and Amanda Nicole Wrede exited the vehicle south of Hillville Rd, where Powell and an officer exchanged gunfire. Wrede was apprehended soon after.

Weather and cover of darkness impacted the search for Powell by multiple agencies and SWAT teams. The pursuit of Powell ended in Monroe, Michigan the following day.

According to a Lima News report on June 2, the defense made a motion to dismiss the case due to the expiration of speedy trial rights, a period of 180 days. The report notes that Powell had been incarcerated on unrelated charges until September 2024. 

Powell was required to file paperwork with the Allen County Common Pleas Court regarding unserved pending cases, which may have been filed in error with the Lima Municipal Court. On June 2 Judge Reed continued the hearing to allow the subpoenaing of witnesses.