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Ohio

Man held in slaying of Ohio officer has lengthy record

Associated Press
Published | Updated

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – The latest in the investigation into the death of an Ohio police officer, whose body was found behind the Danville Municipal Building (all times local):

10:30 a.m.

Court records show the suspect the fatal shooting of an Ohio police officer has a lengthy criminal record and in one case tried to claim he was legally insane.

Knox County Sheriff David Shaffer said Herschel Ray Jones III is being held in connection with the slaying late Sunday of Danville Officer Thomas Cottrell. Cottrell's body was found behind the village's municipal building after a woman reported her ex-boyfriend had weapons and was looking to kill an officer.

Knox County court records show the 32-year-old Jones has multiple convictions for breaking and entering, burglary, receiving stolen property and carrying a concealed weapon dating back to 2001. In a 2011 case, he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity before changing his plea to guilty.

Ohio prison records show he served nearly four years for the 2011 convictions of burglary and receiving stolen property. He was released last April.

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6:15 a.m.

Authorities say a police officer has been found dead behind the municipal building in Danville, Ohio, and a suspect is in custody.

Knox County Sheriff David Shaffer says in a statement that authorities received a call just before midnight Sunday from a woman saying police officers in Danville were in danger, and that her ex-boyfriend had weapons and was looking to kill an officer.

Shaffer says dispatchers tried to make contact with the Danville officer, but was unsuccessful, and that prompted the Knox County Sheriff's Office to search the village.

Shaffer says Danville Officer Thomas Cottrell was found deceased on the ground behind the Danville Municipal Building and his service weapon had been taken. Officials did not immediately say how the officer died.

Suspect Herschel Jones III was captured at about 1:30 a.m. Monday, after a short foot chase.

Danville is located about 60 miles northeast of Columbus and 100 miles southeast of Cleveland.