Sniper Suspect Still Not Competent for Trial

The man accused of terrorizing several Strongsville and Berea neighborhoods with sniper shots in 2009 and 2010 was found incompetent to stand trail.

Ryan Miday, spokesman for  Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason, said a psychiatric report from the  Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court found Paul Hausmann not yet competent to answer for his alleged actions.

But the report said he is "restorable with an appropriate level of anti-psychotic medications," Miday said.

Hausmann is set to be returned to Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare for restoration treatment, and a judge will later revisit his status.

Hausmann, 66, of Steven David Drive, faces 36 counts in connection with sniper fire between May 2009 and January 2010.

He was referred by the court last May for a psychological examination; based on that report, the court found him to be incompetent to stand trial and referred him to Northcoast for competency restoration treatment.

Northcoast reported to the court last month that Hausmann had been restored to competency. The court also asked its own psychiatric clinic for another evaluation and set a hearing for March 22.

If he were found to be competent, his trial would have started April 11.

Hausmann is accused of firing a .22-cal. handgun at four motorists in Berea and one in Strongsville. No injuries were reported. Police speculated he may have been firing from his car window on his way to and from work at the Ford Motor Co. in Brook Park.

He may also have shot at houses, police said.

He was arrested Jan. 12, 2010 after a witness saw a man in a green Ford Focus taking aim on Prospect Road. Another witness got a license number, and an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was waiting for him when he arrived home, still wearing shooting earmuffs and with a loaded .22-cal. handgun on the seat beside him.

Charges against him include 11 counts of felonious assault, 11 counts of improperly handling a firearm, 10 counts of of discharging a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of criminal tools.