NORTH VERNON, Ind. — North Vernon police and the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department arrested a North Vernon man identified as a person of interest in a reported murder.
Shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday, police went to an area on West O&M Avenue after a report that William "Billy" Smith, 45, was in the area.
When officers arrived, Smith began running along back yards, but he was caught and taken into custody, police said.
Smith had what appeared to be two controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, police said.
Smith was being held on a preliminary charge of murder and is being held in the Jennings County Jail without bond, jail officials said.
Earlier Tuesday, police issued a request for tips from the public after they found a deceased person in the 100 block of West Walnut Street in North Vernon at about 1 p.m.
Further details will be released as the investigation allows, police said.
