Two suspects have been taken into custody this morning after police officer Thomas Cottrell was fatally shot in Danville, Ohio Sunday evening. The Ohio Statte Highway Patrol said the officer was reported missing while on duty. His hat was found with blood on it, and his weapon and cruiser were nowhere to be found.
Knox County dispatchers had received a tip from a female caller that Danville cops “were in danger” because her ex-boyfriend, Herschel Jones, had “left with weapons and was looking to kill an officer.” The small town of Danville Police Department consists of only seven officers.
The suspects were captured about 50 miles northeast of Columbus, shortly before 2 a.m. after a two-hour search. A statewide alert had been issued for the officer and a stolen police cruiser.
According to police, the wounded officer was later found outside the Danville Municipal Building.
After the incident Franklin County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert tweeted:
“Prayers for Ohio’s first fallen officer for 2016 a Danville PD Officer was shot/killed this evening in Knox County.”
