COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man whose ex-girlfriend reported that he was armed and looking to kill police was in custody on Monday suspected in the death of an officer whose body was found behind the municipal building of a small Ohio town, authorities said.
The body of Danville Officer Thomas Cottrell was found late Sunday night, about 20 minutes after the ex-girlfriend of Herschel Ray Jones called dispatchers to report that officers in Danville were in danger, Knox County Sheriff David Shaffer said.
Shaffer said dispatchers tried to make contact with Cottrell after receiving the tip around 11:20 p.m., but couldn't reach him.
The sheriff's office then searched the village and found Cottrell's body, Shaffer said. His service weapon and cruiser were missing.
Officials did not immediately say how Cottrell died. But Chief Jim Gilbert, the chief deputy of the Franklin County Sheriff's office, tweeted early Monday: "Prayers for Ohio's first fallen officer for 2016 a Danville PD Officer was shot/killed this evening in Knox County."
Jones was taken into custody around 1:30 a.m. following a short foot chase after he was spotted running from a home in Danville, which is about 60 miles northeast of Columbus.
Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville said he expects a murder charge will be filed against Jones, but he didn't know how soon that could happen. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was still collecting evidence Monday, and Cottrell is scheduled for an autopsy Tuesday in nearby Licking County.
Jones was being held Monday for violating the conditions of his release from prison last year. McConville said that's enough to hold him until he is formally charged.
