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MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) — 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):
4:45 p.m.
A county chief prosecutor says he expects a murder charge to be brought against the man suspected of killing a village police officer in Ohio, but it's not clear how soon that could happen.
Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville says 32-year-old Herschel Ray Jones III was being held Monday for violating the conditions set when he was released from prison last year. He says that's enough to hold him until charges are filed.
Jones is suspected in the death of Danville Officer Thomas Cottrell, whose body was found near the municipal building in the village northeast of Columbus. Authorities have yet to say how he died.
McConville says the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was still gathering evidence, and Cottrell's autopsy is expected to happen on Tuesday. He says it's likely Jones will be charged initially in municipal court, until the case can be taken to a grand jury.
Jones was captured shortly after the officer's body was found. Police say his ex-girlfriend had called police to say Jones had weapons and was looking to kill an officer.
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11:05 a.m.
The president of Ohio's Fraternal Order of Police says the death of a village policeman is the latest reminder that officers are often targeted for violence.
Authorities say Danville Officer Thomas Cottrell's body was found behind the village's municipal building late Sunday.
A suspect is in custody. Investigators say his ex-girlfriend had called dispatchers to report the man was armed and looking to harm police.
Ohio FOP President Jay McDonald says in a statement that the organization's 25,000 members are heartbroken over the "assassination" of Cottrell in the village. That's about 60 miles northeast of Columbus in Knox County.
He asks all Ohioans to pray for peace and healing for the officer's family.
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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 receiving stolen property and possession of chemicals for manufacture of drugs. He was released last April.
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This item has been corrected to show Jones' 2011 conviction was for receiving stolen property and possession of chemicals for manufacture of drugs, not burglary and receiving stolen property.
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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.
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