ANGOLA, IN (WTVB) – The man sent to prison for a crime last summer in Branch County at the Lion’s Den Adult Book Store had a court appearance yesterday in Angola, Indiana where he allegedly committed an armed robbery at a CVS Pharmacy that day in July 2014 before heading to Michigan where he held a woman hostage for several hours. 39-year old Jason Leiffer of Carleton, Michigan had his initial hearing yesterday on Indiana charges of robbery and resisting law enforcement.
Authorities say Leiffer held up the drug store in search of controlled substances and then fled north on I-69 with police agencies in pursuit in a high speed chase that ended when he exited the interstate north of Coldwater onto Jonesville Road and the bookstore. Negotiations with a SWAT team led to his surrender with no injuries reported.
Leiffer is serving 57 months to 15 years following his guilty plea to unlawful imprisonment in November 2014 in Branch County Circuit Court. Four other charges including kidnapping were dismissed as part of the plea bargain. Yesterday in Angola,
Leiffer’s attorney asked for a psychological exam for his client. A jury trial is scheduled for August 19, 2015.