Police charge FM man with arson

FORT MADISON - Fort Madison police have arrested a Fort Madison man on a charge of felony arson.
On Saturday, at approximately 4:11 p.m., Fort Madison Police Department was notified of a fire on the back porch of 2730 Ave. J in Fort Madison.
During the investigation, a description of the suspect was given by a witness that matched the description of a male seen by officers near the area of the call. The male subject was confirmed by the residents of 2730 Ave. J as a Gabriel Hiram Helmick, age 22, of Fort Madison. The male that had been seen just prior to officers arrival, was in Mr. Helmick.
The suspect was located a short time later by officers in the South alley of the 2500 block of Ave. I. Mr. Helmick was taken into custody and was transported to the Lee County Correctional Center. Mr. Helmick was charged with one count of Arson in the 1st degree, a Class B felony, as well as one count of Interference with Official Acts, a simple misdemeanor.
The fire was extinguished by the Fort Madison Fire Department, and no one in the residence was injured in the fire.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.