Pike County man talked about Jesus, called alleged victim a 'devil' before Lorain coin store stabbing in May

A Pike County man talked about Jesus Christ and called another man a "devil" before stabbing him in the head with broken scissors at a Lorain coin shop in May, according to the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office. Forest Colegrove then ran off and jumped into nearby Lake Erie, where Lorain police officers and firefighters had to fish him out and treat him for minor wounds. The stabbing victim, a 79-year-old man, required 50 stitches, according to the Prosecutor's Office. Colegrove, 30, of Waverly, was indicted Thursday in Common Pleas Court on three counts of assault and one count of burglary, all felonies, plus a misdemeanor charge of criminal damaging or endangering. He will be arraigned July 9 in Judge Giovanna Bremke's courtroom. Colegrove was being held in the Lorain County Jail on $50,000 cash bond, according to jail records. Defense attorney Denise Wilms said she expected to request a competency evaluation and enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on behalf of her client. Authorities said Lorain police officers responded at approximately 3:30 p.m. May 11 to D&D Coins on East Erie Avenue in Lorain for a report that a customer had been stabbed. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chris Pierre said officers gave first aid to the victim — identified in court records only by the initials C.C. — who was transported to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center for treatment. He said witnesses told police that Colegrove entered the store, "talked about Jesus," called the alleged victim "the Black devil" then attacked him with a pair of broken scissors. The store owner went for his gun as Colegrove fled. The attacker ran to the shore of Lake Erie at the end of nearby Georgia Avenue, climbed down and was in the water when police officers found him in "frigid" water, Pierre said. Officers climbed down, took Colegrove into custody and treated him for minor wounds including cuts on his hands, Pierre said. Lorain police said Colegrove also assaulted Mercy Hospital staff and an officer while being treated and transported. In a letter filed with the court, Colegrove asked to "let's please settle these court cases before court," offering to "plea bargain" and "make a deal." He also requested a lower bond and to be released on an ankle monitor so he could go back to Waverly. "I'll leave Lorain and never return," Colegrove wrote. "I am a marriage minister and have only good works in Christ to fulfill and accomplish." Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.