COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus Division of Police officer faces felony charges after authorities say he strangled his live-in girlfriend twice, causing her to lose consciousness both times, and threatened her with a gun during a domestic dispute in Delaware County.
Jacob A. Smith, 50, was arrested following the alleged incident on February 27, 2026. He has been charged with one count of strangulation, a second-degree felony, and one count of possession of a firearm inside a liquor-permit premises, a third-degree felony.
According to the criminal complaint, Smith and his girlfriend were at The Blue Sushi restaurant in the Polaris area of Delaware County. Smith drank heavily there, and a waitress stopped serving him alcohol because of his intoxication. An argument broke out between the couple at the restaurant.
After they left, while the girlfriend drove on Gemini Boulevard, Smith allegedly pulled a loaded Glock 48 9mm handgun and threatened her with it. She stopped the car. Smith then placed one hand on her neck and squeezed until she lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, he allegedly placed both hands on her neck and squeezed again, causing her to lose consciousness a second time and urinate on herself.
Smith carried the loaded firearm while actively drinking at the restaurant, which holds a liquor permit.
Smith has been with the Columbus Division of Police since January 2019. He was relieved of duty in June 2024 pending a criminal investigation in another county. No charges resulted from that earlier investigation, but he remained on relieved-of-duty status during an ongoing administrative review of division policies.
A Delaware County judge ordered Smith held in lieu of a $225,000 bond. If he posts bond, he must submit to GPS monitoring, refrain from consuming alcohol or drugs, surrender any firearms, and have no contact with the victim.
The Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, which represents Columbus officers, issued a statement noting that it does not represent members in off-duty criminal matters. Lodge President Brian Steel said, “These serious allegations of domestic violence will be addressed through the judicial process in Delaware County Courts. As with any citizen, Officer Smith is entitled to due process under the law. Capital City Lodge No. 9 expects all of our members to follow the law and uphold the standards of conduct required of those who wear the badge.”
Smith is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 10, 2026, in Delaware County Common Pleas Court. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case remains under investigation by Delaware County authorities. South Central Ohio residents can follow updates through local court records and law enforcement releases as proceedings continue.
