Upper Arlington police plan to ask a Franklin County judge to permanently seize property from four cases dating back to 2017, including two firearms and cash.
The Upper Arlington Police Division published a forfeiture notice on Aug. 26, listing property the department intends to forfeit through Franklin County Common Pleas Court. The items are currently held by UAPD.
Anyone with an ownership or security interest in the listed property may contest the pending court order, the notice states.
The four cases span eight years:
- Case #2020-01415: A cellphone, papers and cash seized Oct. 23, 2020, at Mackenzie Drive and Reed Road (listed as "Reed Reed" in the notice, an apparent typo).
- Case #2017-01045: A firearm seized April 22, 2017, at 3693 Sunset Drive.
- Case #2022-00071: A firearm seized Jan. 12, 2022, at 1955 West Henderson Road.
- Case #2025-00738: A bicycle seized June 19, 2025, at 2105 Riverside Drive.
All locations are in Upper Arlington.
The notice does not identify the underlying criminal cases or charges tied to each seizure.
How Ohio forfeiture works
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2981.05, a prosecutor files a civil complaint in common pleas court requesting that seized property be forfeited to the state or a local government. After filing, the prosecutor must publish notice once a week for two consecutive weeks.
Ohio law requires prosecutors to prove by clear and convincing evidence that property is subject to forfeiture. That standard replaced the lower "preponderance of evidence" threshold after reforms passed in 2017 under House Bill 347.
A person with an interest in the property may petition the court for its release. If no timely petition is filed, the court may order the property forfeited.
What to do if you have a claim
The notice does not list a specific deadline for contesting the forfeiture. Interested parties should contact the Upper Arlington Police Division at 614-583-5000 or Franklin County Common Pleas Court for case status and filing deadlines.
UAPD is located at 3600 Tremont Road. The non-emergency line is 614-459-2800.
