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Report: Police were concerned for safety of ex-Ohio State coach Zach Smith's wife

"She’s petrified, and I really believe her."
Credit: WKYC
Zach Smith was fired by Ohio State in July after allegations of domestic violence involving his ex-wife surfaced.

The wife of former Ohio State receivers coach Zach Smith feared for her safety during their marriage, but authorities didn't have enough evidence to bring charges against him.

Courtney Smith was interviewed by police in Powell, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, in October 2015 before finally filing for divorce in November.

The Columbus Dispatch obtained police records and transcripts from the investigation, which portrayed a woman who was terrified of her estranged husband.

Courtney Smith reported receiving threatening text messages, even death threats, and she described to police numerous incidents of physical abuse -- even while she was pregnant.

"She’s petrified, and I really believe her," officer Ben Boruchowitz told a local prosecutor in one of the phone calls reviewed by the newspaper.

"Based on the degree of violence that he’s done against her, you and I both know when there’s strangling and choking and those kinds of violence, (they) are pretty good indicators that there’s a high chance he may actually follow through with it."

Boruchowitz expressed concern for her safety but said Powell police could only file a disorderly conduct charge against Zach Smith because they weren't able to prosecute alleged crimes that took place elsewhere.

Courtney Smith declined to press charges.

The police department did send a summary of the case to the Delaware County prosecutor's office requesting that a grand jury hear felonious assault and domestic violence charges against Zach Smith. 

However, the prosecutor's office ultimately decided the case wasn't deemed strong enough to prove the felony charges.

Follow Steve Gardner on Twitter @SteveAGardner.

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