Aaron Knapp's court-appointed guardian dismisses appeal of city hall ban (UPDATED)

Former Lorain City Council candidate Aaron Knapp's appeal of his ban from Lorain City Hall has been dismissed at the request of his court-appointed guardian. Knapp's court-appointed guardian, Bobby L. Littlejohn Jr., requested Sept. 30 through attorney Robert Gargasz that the appeal be dismissed. Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Chris Cook dismissed it "without prejudice" on Oct. 5, which means Knapp and/or Littlejohn have the right to refile it, according to court records. Knapp, 53, of Talbot Lane, is recovering from a serious motorcycle crash he was involved in last summer. Littlejohn was appointed Knapp's legal guardian in Lorain County Probate Court on Sept. 22, according to court records. "A guardianship is a court-ordered relationship in which the guardian acts on behalf of the ward," the Probate Court website explains. "Wards are persons who are not able to care for themselves or their property." The guardian is responsible for the care and management of the person, their property or both. Littlejohn's relationship to Knapp wasn't immediately clear. "My understanding is that under Native American culture they are blood brothers bonded in sacred oath as family," Gargasz wrote in an email to The Chronicle-Telegram, suggesting the newspaper consult someone "who is more well-versed in Indian history and culture and can explain this with probably a greater degree of knowledge, clarity and meaning than I can." Knapp was hospitalized after a June 6 motorcycle crash on U.S. Route 6 in Erie County. The Erie County Sheriff's Office cited him with operating without reasonable control, a misdemeanor, and said alcohol use was suspected. Knapp woke from a weekslong coma the first week of August. Knapp was barred from Lorain City Hall and other city property in February after an altercation with Safety/Service Director Rey Carrion in a hallway outside Council chambers. A Chronicle-Telegram reporter was interviewing Carrion when Knapp interrupted. Carrion and Knapp exchanged heated words until Councilman Tony Dimacchia, D-at Large, separated them. Knapp then followed Carrion into the lobby and exchanged words with Police Chief Michael Failing. City officials served Knapp with an official letter banning him from city property. Knapp quickly appealed the ban, and filed a complaint against Carrion, Deputy Safety/Service Director Tim Williams and Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley. Knapp alleged his First Amendment and due process rights were being violated, and asked that the city's actions be declared unconstitutional. Knapp has felony charges of perjury, evidence tampering, intimidation, obstructing official business and possession of criminal tools and misdemeanor charges of falsification, violating a protection order, obstructing official business and menacing pending against him in Common Pleas Court. He has yet to make an initial appearance in court while recovering from his injuries, but has claimed persecution by Lorain and city officials in online posts. Judge Raymond Ewers is awaiting the results of a competency evaluation on Knapp before proceeding with the case. The burden of proof is on Knapp to convince the judge he is not competent to stand trial and is unable to understand the charges and assist his defense.