Trial date scheduled for Columbus police officer charged with strangulation and firearm offense in Delaware County

Key hearing set as felony case moves through Delaware County court

A Delaware County judge has scheduled a court date for a Columbus Division of Police officer accused of strangling his girlfriend, a case that also includes a firearms-related allegation tied to a liquor-permit location.

The officer, identified in the criminal complaint as Jacob Smith, is charged with strangulation and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor-permit premises. The case is being handled in Delaware County, where the arrest and initial filings were made.

What the officer is accused of

The strangulation charge stems from allegations involving the officer and his girlfriend. The court filing also lists a separate count alleging illegal possession of a firearm in a location operating under an Ohio liquor permit, a restriction that can apply even when a person is otherwise legally able to carry a firearm.

At this stage, the allegations are contained in charging documents and have not been tested at trial. The officer is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Next step: a preliminary hearing

Online court records show a preliminary hearing is set for March 10, 2026. In Ohio felony cases, a preliminary hearing is typically used to determine whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed and, if so, to be transferred for further proceedings.

Prosecutors have also asked the court to consider restrictive pretrial conditions if the officer is released while the case is pending, including supervision measures and limitations on contact with the alleged victim.

Employment status and parallel processes

The Columbus Division of Police has said the officer was relieved of duty at the time of his arrest. Separate from the criminal court process, police employees can face internal administrative reviews that proceed under different standards than a criminal prosecution.

How the charges fit Ohio’s legal framework

Ohio has treated strangulation in a domestic-violence context as a distinct and serious offense in recent years, reflecting concerns documented by law enforcement and victim-advocacy officials about the heightened medical risk associated with choking assaults.

The firearms allegation references restrictions connected to liquor-permit premises, an area of law that has generated litigation and public attention in Ohio, including disputes over how firearm prohibitions apply in places where alcohol is served.

• Defendant: Jacob Smith, Columbus Division of Police
• Charges: strangulation; illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor-permit premises
• Next court date: March 10, 2026 (preliminary hearing)

If the case proceeds beyond the preliminary-hearing stage, additional filings—such as an indictment—could define the final set of charges and set a schedule for later hearings and a possible trial.