FREDERICKTOWN — A Fredericktown man is in the Knox County Jail following a stand-off with deputies on Upper Fredericktown Road Thursday evening.
According to Knox County Sheriff David Barber deputies were attempting to arrest 28-year-old Jeremy Helmick at his residence at 14200 Upper Fredericktown Road at approximately 7:27 p.m. on a warrant from Richland County. The warrant from Richland County was for failure to appear on possession of crack cocaine charges.
Barber said as they approached the residence, Helmick was seen through a window and when he observed the officers he refused to come to the door or speak to them and retreated to a bedroom on the north side of the house with a small child. Despite efforts by deputies to communicate with the suspect, Helmick did not respond and a stand-off ensued.
The Tactical Response Unit, as well as crisis negotiations and the sheriff, responded to the scene and shortly before 9 p.m. the suspect emerged from the house without the child and was quickly taken into custody. Barber said officers found the suspect’s 5-year-old son safe inside the residence and he was turned over to his mother who was not present at the time of the stand-off. Deputies found suspected crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia following a search of the residence.
Helmick is being held in the Knox County Jail on the warrant from Richland County with additional charges expected to be filed today after detectives meet with Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher.
The sheriff said this high-risk situation became even worse when a child was involved and he said the peaceful resolution was the result of the team effort of all of the officers involved, including the assistance of the Fredericktown police at the scene.