Johnny Smith Jr., the man Loesch is accused of hitting at EMH Medical Center in Elyria on Jan. 27, asked for the charges to be dropped during both a July 31 call to Elyria police and again Thursday during a hearing in Elyria Municipal Court.
“I just want to go on with my life and I don’t want anything bad to happen to this guy,” Smith told visiting Judge Michael Weigand on Thursday.
Smith said during the call to Elyria police that he believes Loesch may need counseling to deal with the events of March 15, 2010, when Elyria police Officer James Kersetter was gunned down by Ronald Palmer while responding to a call on 18th Street.
Loesch and Officer Donald Moss shot and killed Palmer when he refused orders to surrender and charged at Loesch.
Special Prosecutor John Reulbach Jr. said that counseling and sensitivity training is exactly what Loesch would get under the diversion program, which Weigand agreed to place the veteran officer in. If Loesch successfully completes the program, the charges against him will be dropped.
According to an internal police investigation, Smith was struck by Loesch after making a comment about Kerstetter’s death while he was being treated for injuries he received during his arrest earlier in the evening of Jan. 27.
Smith - who had a blood-alcohol level of 0.355, more than four times the legal limit for driving - told officers he wished Palmer had killed more officers the night Kerstetter died.
A nurse who watched the incident on a monitor connected to a video camera in Smith’s hospital room told police that Loesch and Officer Richard Walker shut the door after the comment. She told officers that Loesch then walked over to Smith and struck him once on the left side of his face.
Although Smith has said the blow nearly knocked him unconscious, Walker told police it wouldn’t have harmed his 10-year-old and was meant to get Smith’s attention.

“I just want to go on with my life and I don't want anything bad to happen to this guy,” Smith told visiting Judge Michael Weigand on Thursday. Smith said during the call to Elyria police that he believes Loesch may need counseling to deal with the
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