On Friday, February 17 at approximately 8:13 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in New London. The vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued. 

The vehicle was lost when it drove off the roadway into nearby fields. The New London Police Department was able to locate the vehicle at approximately 8:16 a.m. Another pursuit ensued, with the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed through New London. The vehicle left the roadway once more, driving through fields before crashing through fences. 

The driver fled the vehicle on foot and was quickly apprehended. The driver was identified as 41-year-old Joshua Helmick of Norwalk. Helmick was arrested and charged with eluding, a class D felony, interference with official acts, a serious misdemeanor, criminal mischief, an aggravated misdemeanor, and failure to maintain control, a simple misdemeanor. 

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the incident by the New London Police Department and Mount Pleasant Police Department.