Access Lima Recent Arrests
Lima recent arrests are processed by the Lima Police Department and booked at the Allen County Jail. The city is the county seat of Allen County in northwest Ohio. You can search for arrest records in Lima through the police department's records bureau, the Allen County Sheriff's inmate lookup, or the Lima Clerk of Courts online case search. There is an important change to know about: the Lima Police Department's records window is no longer open for walk-in requests. All records are now handled by email or appointment. Ohio law still gives you full access to arrest records. You just need to use phone or email to get them now.
Lima Overview
Lima Police Arrest Records
The Lima Police Department serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the city. The department maintains all arrest reports, incident records, and booking data. As of January 2026, the records window at the police station is no longer open for walk-in visits. This is a big change. You can no longer just show up and ask for a report at the counter.
Records are now available by email or by appointment only. Contact the Records Bureau at (419) 221-5135 or fax your request to (419) 221-5109. You can also email requests to lpdrecords@limaohio.gov or LPDRecords@cityhall.lima.oh.us. The Records Division is staffed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and Wednesdays from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. If you need to pick up records in person, you will need to make an appointment first.
Even though the walk-in window is closed, your rights have not changed. Under Ohio Revised Code 149.43, the police must still give you arrest records promptly. The format changed. The law did not.
The Lima Police Department page at the city's website has links to records request info, department contacts, and public safety resources.
This page lists the records bureau contact information and explains the new process for getting copies of arrest reports.
Lima Recent Arrests at Allen County Jail
People arrested in Lima are taken to the Allen County Jail, which is on the same premises as the Allen County Sheriff's Office at 333 North Main Street, Lima, OH 45801. The sheriff's main phone is (419) 227-3535. The jail serves as the primary detention facility for all law enforcement agencies in Allen County.
The sheriff's office maintains an online inmate search where you can look up who is currently booked. Search by name or booking number. Results show the inmate's name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and mugshot. The system only shows people who are currently in custody. If someone was released, they will not appear in the active search.
Visitation at the Allen County Jail allows each inmate two 20-minute visits per week on Saturday and Sunday. Times vary based on the inmate's location within the facility. Contact the jail for specific scheduling details.
Note: The Allen County Sheriff's Warrants Division processes between 1,000 and 1,300 active warrants at any time, and warrant info is released in person only with valid ID.
The official City of Lima portal at limaohio.gov has links to city departments, police services, and public records information.
Use the city website to find direct links to the Lima Police Department and other city services.
Lima and Allen County Records Fees
The Allen County Sheriff's Records Bureau charges specific fees for copies of reports. These are some of the lowest you will find in Ohio.
- Complaint report or traffic crash report (in person): $0.04 per page
- Mailed or faxed reports: $0.04 per page plus prepaid postage
- Photographs via email: Free
- Photographs on CD: $10
Video records come with higher fees. Under Ohio Revised Code 149.43, law enforcement agencies can charge up to $75 per hour for processing video requests, with a cap of $750. This applies to body-worn camera recordings, cruiser camera footage, and interrogation or interview recordings. The review and redaction process takes roughly twice the length of the actual footage. You must pay before the department starts processing your request.
The sheriff's Records Bureau is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can submit requests in person at 333 North Main Street or send them by mail.
Lima Court Records for Recent Arrests
Court case information for Lima arrests can be searched on the Lima Clerk of Courts website. The system covers traffic, criminal, and civil cases. You can look up cases by name or case number. The search is free and open to the public.
Misdemeanor cases from Lima arrests go through the Lima Municipal Court. Felony cases are handled by the Allen County Court of Common Pleas. Both courts keep records that are open to the public under Ohio law. If someone was arrested in Lima and charged with a felony, the case moves from the municipal court to common pleas after the preliminary hearing.
Statewide Resources for Lima Arrests
VINELink tracks custody status for inmates at the Allen County Jail and Ohio state prisons. Get free alerts by email, text, or phone when an inmate's status changes. Registration takes just a few minutes and there is no cost.
The Ohio DRC Offender Search covers state prison inmates. Search by name or offender number to find current facility, sentence details, and release dates. The Ohio BCI WebCheck provides fingerprint-based criminal history reports at $22 for Ohio only or about $55 for a combined Ohio and FBI check.
If any office denies your records request, the Ohio Court of Claims handles complaints under ORC 2743.75 and can order release of records.
Allen County Arrest Resources
Lima is the county seat of Allen County. The sheriff's office and jail are both in Lima, making access to county records convenient. For more on county-level resources, see the full Allen County recent arrests page.
Nearby Cities
Other Ohio cities near Lima with arrest records pages.