Man accused of killing Columbus officer pleads not guilty

The man accused of killing Columbus Police Officer Steven Smith pleaded not guilty this morning.

Lincoln Rutledge, 44, was indicted by a grand jury on 11 counts earlier this week, resulting in a possible death penalty.

His charges include two counts of aggravated murder, four attempted murder, four felonious assault and one aggravated arson.

Judge Mark Serrott ordered Rutledge to continue to be held without bond until his next hearing.

6/7/16: Man accused of killing Columbus officer faces death

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced this morning that Lincoln Rutledge, the man who is accused of killing Columbus Police officer Steven Smith, could receive the death penalty for his crimes.

Rutledge, 44, is facing eleven charges, which include two counts of aggravated murder, four attempted murder, four felonious assault and one aggravated arson.

Back in April, Rutledge set a Clintonville building on fire and turned the situation into a standoff with police.

He allegedly fired on the police and hit Officer Smith in the head with a bullet Columbus officers called “one-in-a-million.” Smith was taken to the Wexner Medical Center and put on life support, where he died two days later.

Columbus rallied around Officer Smith in the wake of his death, with thousands paying tribute to him at his funeral.

Rutledge was denied bond, and is set to be arraigned June 10.

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