DELAWARE COUNTY — Jacob A. Smith, 50, a Columbus Division of Police officer, was arrested Saturday in Delaware County and charged with felony strangulation and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises after he allegedly strangled his girlfriend twice outside a Polaris-area restaurant, according to court records.
Smith was arraigned in Delaware County Common Pleas Court, where a judge set his bond at $225,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 10.
The Columbus Division of Police confirmed Smith has been relieved of duty following his arrest.
What Happened
On the night of February 27, Smith and his girlfriend went to dinner at Blue Sushi on Gemini Place near Polaris. Their server noticed Smith drinking heavily and cut him off.
Things got ugly outside after they left.
Court papers say Smith grabbed his girlfriend by the throat with one hand and squeezed until she blacked out and lost control of her bladder. Then he did it again — this time with both hands — until she blacked out a second time.
Smith also had a loaded Glock 48 on him inside the restaurant. In Ohio, carrying a gun inside a place that serves alcohol is a felony on its own.
His girlfriend’s name has not been released.
He Called His Dad From Jail
At his arraignment, a prosecutor told the judge something that raised eyebrows. While Smith was sitting in the Delaware County Jail, he called his father. The prosecutor said Smith used “thinly veiled coded words” to tell his dad to get the guns out of his house before police showed up to take them.
Prosecutors asked for a $250,000 bond and house arrest with GPS monitoring. The judge set bond at $225,000.
This Isn’t His First Time Losing His Badge
Columbus police Sgt. Joe Albert confirmed Smith is off the job. But this has happened before. Back in June 2024, Smith was pulled from duty during a criminal investigation in another county. That case never led to charges, and Smith went back to work — until now.
The Columbus Division of Police has not said whether internal affairs is looking into the matter.
This arrest follows a weekend of high-profile incidents in Central Ohio, including Columbus Man Convicted of Twice Kidnapping Ex-Girlfriend.
What Happens Next
Smith faces two felony charges, strangling his girlfriend and carrying a gun inside a bar. His next court date is March 10 in Delaware County.
No additional charges have been filed. Smith is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This article is based on court filings from Delaware County Common Pleas Court, statements from Columbus police Sgt. Joe Albert.
Published: March 3, 2026 | ColumbusFrontline.com