3 Norwalk residents arrested in armed robbery

SANDUSKY — Three armed robbery suspects with Norwalk connections were arrested in connection with a recent Venice Road incident.The Sandusky Police Department has reported they believe only one of the suspects knew the 23-year-old male victim well — former Jefferson Street resident Melanie C. Frank, 18, now of Huron. "The others might've been acquaintances, but it didn't seem he knew them like he knew her," Lt. Eric Graybill told the Sandusky Register.Frank was charged with complicity to aggravated robbery, complicity to aggravated burglary and tampering with evidence. She has been released from the Erie County Jail, having posted a $60,000 bond with a 10-percent provision.Also charged with complicity to aggravated robbery and complicity to aggravated burglary are: Marcus A. Lay, 19, of 5144 N. U.S. 250, Lot 26; Alyah J. Valliant, 20, of the Rustic Hills Mobile Home Park; and 20-year-old Perkins Township resident Kayla Corwin.Lay and Valliant have been unable to post a $50,000 bond with a 10-percent provision as of press time. According to jail records, Corwin — whose bond was the same as Lay and Valliant — was released Thursday from jail to a specified person, based on a court order.Just before 5:30 p.m. Monday, a Venice Road woman reported her neighbor had been robbed and she suspected one of the culprits had a handgun, according to a police report.The male victim reportedly answered his door, let Frank inside, her suspected accomplices forced their way inside, brandished a titanium knife and that's when the possible robbery started, Graybill said.The victim fell during the incident and possibly twisted his leg. Police also said the man ran outside away from the suspects, who chased him and a neighbor who noticed the commotion called authorities.The suspects reportedly fled the scene in a tan Mercury Grand Marquis and headed eastbound on Venice Road, according to the police report.An officer saw the car on Perkins Avenue turning southbound onto Hayes Avenue. "Due to the nature of the incident and the possiblity of a firearm being involved," police said they made a felony traffic stop on Hayes south of Perkins near Bone Creek Drive."They pulled over and followed our commands," Graybill said.Police arrested the four suspects without incident and seized one pack of L&M cigarettes, which was reported to be stolen by Frank from the victim, and logged it into evidence. FrankCorwinValliantLay