Danville Officer Found Dead

Sunday January 17th a family in our own community's worst nightmare became reality.

According to The Newark Advocate, dispatchers got a call that evening from a female warning the dispatcher that her ex-boyfriend, Herschel Jones, had just left the house armed and on a mission to shoot a police officer. The woman also said during the call, “He has already beaten me and threatened to kill me. I don't know if he’s coming home”.

Dispatchers tried to call and warn the sheriff's office, but they got no answer for a while, when they finally got in contact it was too late. Before they could warn the responding officer, Thomas Cottrell, he had an encounter with the suspect.

Tragically, Thomas Cottrell (37) was found dead 27 minutes later after the call behind Danville Municipal building with his weapon and cruiser missing. Herschel Jones was taken into custody about 1:30 a.m on Monday after a short foot chase. Jones has a lengthy criminal record and has even plead insanity at one point in his life. In the past, he has been charged with breaking and entering, burglary, receiving stolen property, and carrying a concealed weapon. Knoxville county prosecutors said they will expect a murder charge against Jones at the least.

Brucker Kishler funeral home will be holding the calling hours on January 22nd from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm. North 21st Street will be closed from Meadowbrook Drive to Catalina Drive during this time. Local traffic will be asked to take a different route and other traffic restrictions will be announced for Saturdays funeral.

We hope that everybody in the community will show their love and support for his family during this hard time and share their condolences with his daughters that go to our school.

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/2016/01/18/slain-danville-officer-had-licking-county-ties/78964644/