Columbus officer fired after Delaware County arrest on strangulation allegation and firearm charge at restaurant

Officer terminated following off-duty arrest and separate internal action

A Columbus Division of Police officer has been terminated from employment following an arrest in Delaware County on allegations of strangulation and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor-permit premises.

The former officer, identified in court records as Jacob Smith, 50, was arrested on Feb. 28, 2026. A criminal complaint filed in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas lists two counts: strangulation and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor-permit premises. The case remains pending.

What the criminal complaint alleges

The complaint alleges that Smith placed his hand on a person’s neck and squeezed until the person lost consciousness, and then used both hands to squeeze again, leading to a second loss of consciousness. Prosecutors have treated the allegations as serious enough to request substantial pretrial restrictions; court proceedings in early March included arguments over bond conditions and access to firearms.

Separately, court reporting included allegations that Smith possessed a Glock 48 while inside The Blue Sushi, a restaurant with a liquor license. The available court narrative did not definitively state where the alleged strangulation occurred.

Firearm-in-liquor-permit premises charge: the legal context

Ohio law generally prohibits possessing a firearm in a room where beer or intoxicating liquor is being consumed on premises holding a D permit, or in certain permitted open-air areas. The statute includes exceptions and penalty enhancements that can depend on how the firearm is carried and other circumstances.

In Ohio case law, courts have addressed disputes over how this law applies in specific fact patterns, including questions raised in litigation over constitutionality and the scope of statutory exceptions. Those issues can become relevant when defendants challenge the charge before trial, though no final rulings have been issued in Smith’s case.

Employment history and prior administrative status

City statements surrounding the arrest indicated Smith had previously been relieved of duty in June 2024 during a criminal investigation in Fairfield County; officials said that earlier inquiry did not result in charges. Publicly available accounts did not identify whether that earlier matter was connected to the 2026 arrest.

What happens next

• Criminal case: Smith is scheduled for additional court proceedings in Delaware County as the case advances through pretrial steps.

• Employment status: The city’s termination action concludes his employment, though public-safety personnel decisions can be subject to established administrative and labor processes.

• Evidence and findings: The allegations described in the complaint remain unproven; the case will be resolved through the court process.

Strangulation allegations and firearm restrictions in liquor-permit premises can produce parallel consequences: criminal exposure in court and separate employment discipline within law enforcement agencies.