Treatment ordered for Springfield teacher in police chase

12/19/2007

A Springfield Local teacher who led police on a chase last month was declared incompetent to stand trial in Lucas County Common Pleas Court yesterday and was ordered to undergo therapy at a local mental-health facility.

Louis Kovin was charged with two counts each of felonious assault and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer. He was arrested Nov. 12 after leading police on a chase that began in Springfield Township and ended when state troopers punctured his tires and his van went off I-75 near State Rt. 582 in Wood County.

Yesterday, the 39-year-old Waterville resident appeared with defense attorney Jerry Phillips. Judge Frederick McDonald referred to a seven-page report authored by a doctor at Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare on Detroit Avenue when making his decision.

"The conclusion is that the defendant is responsive to medication, however, not presently competent," Judge McDonald said. He said Mr. Kovin could be restored to competency within a year with proper medication.

School officials said Mr. Kovin met with an assistant superintendent at the district's administration building about an incident Nov. 6 when he verbally resigned and walked off the job. After the meeting, Mr. Kovin wanted to go back to the school where he taught but was told he could not enter the building.

Mr. Kovin had been a technology teacher at Springfield Middle School. Although the board of education was poised to take up the issue of his employment at its Nov. 28 meeting, school officials said he has not been fired.