CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A possible suspect has been taken into custody in the deadly hit‑and‑run crash that killed Joshua R. Hopkins in Ross County, authorities confirmed through jail records Saturday.
One week after the incident, a man was booked into the Ross County Jail on multiple felony charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident. Jail roster records show that Martin Arlington Howard, 34, was taken into custody and booked around noon on Jan. 17. No additional details about the arrest have been released.
Hopkins, 49, was killed on Jan. 10 when a vehicle left the roadway and struck him in the yard of his home in the 5800 block of Denver Road in Huntington Township, according to the Ross County Sheriff’s Office. The driver fled the scene. Investigators said they believe a truck was involved, but did not provide a description.
Sheriff George Lavender publicly identified Hopkins on Thursday, nearly five days after the crash, and said the investigation remained active. He urged anyone with information to contact his office or Southern Ohio Crime Stoppers.
The delayed release of information prompted frustration among residents and family members, who told the Guardian they felt left in the dark about the case. Online, some community members questioned the sheriff’s transparency and called for more frequent updates.
Authorities have not released further information about Howard’s alleged involvement, and no affidavit or incident report has yet been made public.