Fourth suspect in Canton homicide investigation arrested
CANTON – Federal agents arrested a fourth suspect wanted in a homicide case following a SWAT team stand-off Tuesday night.
Andrew Williams, 28, was seen peering out a bedroom window when agents with the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and Canton police went to a home in the 2000 block of Silent Court NW, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service.
"During the arrest attempt, Williams barricaded himself in a bedroom inside the residence, resulting in the Canton SWAT team being activated to the scene," the release states. Williams was "eventually arrested."
He was booked into the jail on a warrant charging him with complicity to aggravated murder.
Williams is one of four people wanted in connection to the death of Joseph Pomeroy, 32. Three others also face charges for the abduction, beating and rape of another man held captive in their basement, investigators said.
One man dead, another held hostage
A passerby found Pomeroy's body in a ditch along Hardington Avenue NE in Canton Township. He had been wrapped in a blanket, plastic, chains and a bungee cord. A Stark County Coroner's Office investigator said he'd suffered blows to the head and some cuts.
Four days later, an Ohio Adult Parole Authority officer who went to a home in the 600 block of Correll Avenue NE to check on Jeremy Morlock, 43. Morlock was wanted on a parole violation stemming from his 2020 conviction for failing to notify authorities of his change of address as a convicted sex offender.
The officer instead found another man tied up and locked in the basement. The man had been beaten and sexually assaulted.
The victim was taken to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital and then, by emergency medical helicopter, to the MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.
He was listed in serious condition last week, but his condition on Wednesday was not available.
Arrests follow
Police arrested the residents of the Correll home: Morlock, Clayton J. Smart, 24, and Maryann Soliday, 34. Morlock was nabbed in the 700 block of McKinley Avenue NW, and Smart and Soliday were arrested at their home.
"The city of Canton is safer now that all four of these suspects are locked away from the community. The crimes they are alleged to commit are heinous and required swift law enforcement action," U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said in a news release issued Tuesday night.
According to Stark County court records, investigators allege Morlock killed Pomeroy "on or about May 8" with help from Smart, Williams and Soliday.
Morlock was jailed on charges of aggravated murder, kidnapping, felonious assault and rape. Soliday and Smart were each booked into the jail on charges of kidnapping, felonious assault, rape and complicity to murder.
Williams also faces obstructing official business and a weapons charges.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton police arrest Andrew Williams in connection to homicide
