State rep and other elected officials on hand as gun thief steals antique firearm from museum

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that one of the likely more-brazen thefts of the year happened on Memorial Day in Pataskala, and a state representative and several other elected officials were in attendance when the theft occurred.

From the article:

As visitors packed the small Mead-Needham Museum for its grand opening, someone pilfered the ivory-handled Colt .45-caliber handgun tucked in the belt of a full Korean War uniform on display.

The heist took place between noon and 2 p.m. under the noses of several public officials, including state Rep. Jay Hottinger, Licking County Commissioner Doug Smith, Pataskala Mayor Steve Butcher and City Council President Dan Hayes.

According to the article, the gun, valued at about $2,000, is still missing, and no arrests have been made.