COLUMBUS — Toledo murder suspect Darnell Jones on Thursday waived arraignment in Franklin County Municipal Court on a charge of felonious assault on a police officer in connection with a confrontation with Columbus police.
Judge Jim O’Grady granted the request of Assistant County Prosecutor Marla Farbacher for 15 days to arrange for the transport of Jones, 33, also known as Darnell Jerome Ogletree in court records, back to Lucas County.
LATEST IN KEI’MANI LATIGUE CASE
He faces charges in Lucas County related to the disappearance and murder of his 13-year-old daughter, Kei’mani Latigue, more than two weeks ago.
"Lucas County does intend to come pick him up," Ms. Fahrbacher said. "Because he's a medical transport, I'm asking for more than 10 days for transport.”
The charge of felonious assault on a police officer, a first-degree felony, alone could carry up to 11 years in prison, but the murder case will take priority.
All arraignments occur via video from the James A. Karnes Correction Center in Columbus, but the court had arranged for Jones to appear directly from his cell because he is still recovering from his wounds.
Ultimately, he chose to waive that appearance through Liz Rigel, a county public defender. He had been in a local hospital until Wednesday.
Jones was shot on March 25 when he pulled a gun on officers in the Columbus neighborhood of Victorian Village. No officer was injured, and a firearm was recovered at the scene.
Police video shows Jones telling an officer to “just kill me” four times. As the officer, his gun drawn, continued to demand that Jones show his hands, Jones discharged a gun concealed in his clothing.
The officer then returned fire with four shots heard on the video. Jones underwent surgery at a local hospital.
Police had been on the watch for him after finding his abandoned car. Toledo police already had a warrant out for his arrest for abduction for allegedly removing Kei’mani without the consent of her guardian.
Jones had been in the hospital in stable condition since the shooting until he was transferred to the county jail.
The Lucas County Coroner’s Office put Kei’mani’s time of death at 12:19 p.m. on March 24, the result of “multiple incised wounds of the neck.” The vacant house in Toledo’s east side is expected to be demolished.
Kei’mani had been reported missing by her grandmother on March 18 after she did not show up for school and calls to her cell phone went unanswered.
During the 15 days before he is expected to be transferred back to Lucas County, Jones will face a preliminary hearing on the felonious assault charge on April 18. Otherwise, the case will be generally continued until April 25.
First Published April 10, 2025, 1:40 p.m.
