A 45-year-old North Vernon man wanted for murder was arrested Tuesday evening in that Jennings County city, police report.

William Steven "Billy" Smith was located shortly after 6 p.m. by officers with the city and Jennings County Sheriff’s Department in the area of West O&M Avenue, according to a news release from North Vernon Sgt. Andrew Richmond.

When police arrived, Smith started running along backyards in that area, just east of the North Vernon Education and Training Center in the 1200 block of West County Road 150N, Richmond said.

Officer, however, caught and arrested Smith, who was found to be in possession of what appeared to be two controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, police said. Details of those items, which are still being processed, and charges for possessing those items will be forthcoming, Richmond said.

He said tips from citizens and cooperation between police departments helped led to the swift capture of Smith, who had been sought as part of an investigation into the death of a person found inside a residence in the 100 block of West Walnut Street in North Vernon.

That investigation started at 1 p.m. Tuesday when police received a report about the deceased person.