A 911 call obtained Monday revealed Herschel Ray Jones' ex-girlfriend's warning the police that they were in danger. The call was made minutes before the body of Danville Officer Thomas Cottrell was found behind the Danville municipal building.
A woman made a 911 call stating that she is in danger but so are the police in an Ohio village during an 11:20 pm call obtained by The Columbus Dispatch. "Yes, I'm in danger", the woman said. "But the cops in Danville are in danger, too. My ex-boyfriend's out in camo looking to kill a cop", as reported by ABC News.
The woman further added that Jones threatened to kill her and he was armed. Danville Officers tried to reach Cottrell but his body was later found 20 minutes after the call with his service weapon and police cruiser missing.
Jones was eventually tracked down and was spotted at 1:30 am while running out of a house. According to CBS News, police officers gave a chase but Jones was caught near the Danville Park. Cottrell's cruiser was also found a short distance from the location of the arrest.
As reported by Mail Online, Jones was also found to have a lengthy police record which includes burglary, receiving stolen property and carrying a concealed weapon in 2001. He was also involved in a case in 2011 where he pleaded not guilty citing the reason of insanity, only to eventually shift to admitting his guilt.
He also served more than three years for the 2011 case and was recently released in April. A murder charge is yet to be filed but Jones is being held for violating the conditions of his release which officers believe would be sufficient time to keep the suspect until a charge is formally filed.
Cottrell's cause of death hasn't been officially stated but Chief Jim Gilbert of Franklin's County Sheriff's office tweeted, "Prayers for Ohio's first fallen officer for 2016 a Danville PD Officer was shot/killed this evening in Knox County."
Ohio Fraternal Order of Police president Jay McDonald also paid tribute to Cottrell's death calling his demise as an assassination. Cottrell's body was scheduled to undergo autopsy on Tuesday.
