Seymour man arrested for stalking and arson after setting his house on fire

SEYMOUR – On Thursday, April 14, 2022, Patrol Officers with the Seymour Police Department attempted to serve an active Jackson Circuit Court Arrest Warrant for 44-year-old John Helton, of Seymour, for stalking.

John Helton

When Patrol Officers arrived at Helton’s residence and attempted to serve the warrant, they observed Helton in the middle of E. 15th St. rolling back and forth. Patrol Officers then realized that Helton’s residence was on fire.

When Helton observed patrol officers, he attempted to evade arrest. Additional Officers arrived at the scene and were able to take Helton into custody. Patrol Officers then saw that Helton had severe burns to the lower part of his body. Jackson County EMS responded to the scene and treated Helton. Due to the severity of the burns, Helton was ultimately airlifted to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.

The Seymour Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire. Once the fire was extinguished, fire department personnel advised that the fire was suspicious in nature.

Investigators with the Seymour Police Department then obtained a Jackson Superior Court 1 Search Warrant to process the fire scene. The Indiana State Fire Marshall’s Office was also contacted and responded to the scene to assist. Evidence was collected from the scene and would later be taken to the Indiana State Police Lab for further examination.

On May 2, 2022, Investigators with the Seymour Police Department traveled to Indianapolis and arrested Helton on 2 Jackson Circuit Court Arrest Warrants for stalking, a level 5 felony; arson, a level 4 felony, and two counts of resisitng law enforcement, both class A misdemeanors.

Helton was transported to the Jackson County Jail where he was remanded into the custody of the Jail Division.