LISBON –A former Leetonia man accused of attacking a Leetonia police officer and trying to take his service weapon last fall and attacking a deputy sheriff in April 2024 was ordered committed to a mental health facility.

Randy A. May, 47, who’s been held at the Columbiana County Jail in Lisbon, appeared for a commitment hearing recently in Common Pleas Court before Judge Megan Bickerton.

Bickerton wrote in the judgment entry that based on the report of the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio, May was found to be a mentally ill person. She said the court considered all the relevant evidence in making a determination of the least restrictive alternative, including the dangerousness of the acquittee (May) to self and others, the need for security and the type of crime he committed

“Based upon the evidence presented, the court finds that the least restrictive alternative available, consistent with public safety and the welfare of the aquittee (May), is commitment to Heartland Behavioral Healthcare, Massillon,” Bickerton wrote.

For the case involving the attack against the Leetonia officer, the final termination of the commitment will be Sept. 15, 2036. For the other case, the termination will be March 15, 2027. A review hearing was set for March 6, 2026.

May was recently found not guilty by reason of insanity to two counts of felonious assault and one count of aggravated robbery, all first-degree felonies, for the attack that left Leetonia Patrolman John Hancock injured.

May was accused of using a 2-foot-long solid steel rod to beat Hancock about the head and face on Oct. 21, 2024 on Pearl Street in Leetonia. The felonious assault charges alleged that he caused harm to the officer and used a deadly weapon to cause the harm. The robbery charge stemmed from May grabbing for Hancock’s service weapon during the assault.

He was also found not guilty by reason of insanity to fourth-degree felony assault for striking a deputy in his side and then striking him again during an incident at his Leetonia residence when deputies responded for a person having a mental health crisis on April 11, 2024.

Bickerton had determined that as a result of mental illness, May did not know the wrongfulness of his acts.