Jaron Wesley Wiggs

SYRACUSE — A welfare check Sunday, Aug. 30, resulted in an arrest and multiple charges being filed.

Jaron W. Wiggs, 27, whose last known address was 402 W. Pickwick Drive, Syracuse, was arrested on criminal confinement, a level 3 felony; arson, a level 4 felony; intimidation, a level 5 felony, and intimidation, a level 6 felony. He was booked on $15,000 surety bond and $250 cash bond

Syracuse Police Officer Mike Bumbaugh arrived in the area of Wiggs’ residence to see him running west toward Wawasee High School’s auto mechanic shop. When the officer asked him to come back, Wiggs ran to the officer and stated his house was on fire and asked the officer to shoot him in the head. He also told the officer if he didn’t shoot him, he was going to shoot the officer in the head.

Wiggs would not confirm, to the officer, if he had any weapons in his possession. Brumbaugh was able to convince Wiggs to lay on the ground and be taken into custody, without incident.

Turkey Creek/Syracuse Fire Department was called to the residence on Pickwick Drive. Fire Chief Mickey Scott stated someone had sprayed lighter fluid throughout the home and tried to set it on fire. The fire was out by the time the fire department arrived. The home was identified as belonging to Taylor Patton who resided at the home with her two children, ages 1 and 6.

Police were able to speak to Patton who has a protective order against Wiggs. She stated Wiggs did not live at that residence, but had been at her home throughout the week retrieving personal items. He arrived at her home at 9:30 a.m. that day and she could tell he was under the influence of controlled substances. As she gathered her children to prepare to leave, he confronted her.

Wiggs allegedly had a metal bar in his hand and told her if she contacted police or tried to leave he was going to kill her. He followed her around the home, with the metal bar, and threatened to kill her in front of her children. Later in the afternoon, he did allow her and the children to leave.

Patton told police she later received a phone call from Wiggs’ mother inquiring about his whereabouts as his mother had received a phone call from Wiggs around 5 p.m. Wiggs had told his mother he was going to kill himself and burn the house down.