Person of Interest Arrested in Area Murder

Authoriites in Licking County say they have arrested a person of interest in connection with the murder of a Granville area man.
 

Detectives with the Licking County Sheriff’s Office say 30-year-old Mark Valentino of Kokomo, Indiana is being held in the Howard County jail on a warrant from Licking County.
 

The warrant was the result of the theft of firearms from the residence of 55-year-old Hershel Roberts.

Roberts was found dead in his home on North Street Road in McKean Township Monday afternoon.
 

Valentino was arrested at 12:20 a.m. Wednesday after a 15 mile pursuit in the Kokomo area.

 Authorities say he was taken into custody without incident after crashing his vehcile into a ditch in a field.
 

Licking County Detectives will remain in Kokomo to continue the investigation.