Firefighter arrested for alleged assault with dangerous weapon

A firefighter for the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting unit was arrested last week for allegedly threatening a man with a rifle following a heated argument.

Hekido Kaipat Helgen, 25, is accused of beating his sister’s boyfriend with the help of two minors on Nov. 24 and allegedly pointing a rifle at the victim.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho retained yesterday the $5,000 cash bail that was initially imposed on Helgen.

Kaipat is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

During a bail hearing yesterday, Helgen’s lawyer, Chief Public Defender Doug Hartig, asked the court to allow his client to post 10% of his bail so he may be released on his own recognizance. Hartig argued that his client is not a flight risk as he has a job and tight ties to the community.

Assistant attorney general Carmen Borja opposed this request, saying Helgen’s bail should be kept at $5,000 as his alleged crime involves a firearm.

Camacho, for his part, said he wants to strike a balance because the concern isn’t the bail amount but rather if the defense can provide the court with a suitable third-party custodian to be the eyes and ears of the court while Helgen is out on bail.

Camacho eventually denied the defense’s motion for bail modification at this time, but gave him an opportunity to bring the matter back before the court when already has a suitable third-party custodian to propose.

Helgen was remanded back to Department of Corrections custody and was ordered to return to court on Dec. 6 for his preliminary hearing; he will be arraigned Dec. 11.

According to court documents, police responded last Nov. 10 to a disturbance-in-progress call at an apartment in San Antonio.

At the scene, police spoke with the alleged victim, who accused Helgen of assaulting him and pointing a rifle at him before leaving the scene in his truck.

The victim told police that Helgen had arrived at around 9:02pm at the apartment that he shares with his girlfriend who is also Helgen’s sister.

He said he heard Helgen and his girlfriend arguing and he confronted him, leading to a heated altercation.

Moment later, Helgen allegedly head-butted him while a minor identified as T.K. allegedly punched the victim in the face.

Helgen allegedly proceeded to knee the victim in the stomach while T.K, another minor identified at D.K, and another unknown individual kicked and punched the victim in different parts of his body.

Helgen then allegedly rear-neck choked him, causing him to lose consciousness for about 30 seconds.

When he regained consciousness, he said he noticed his phone was on the ground and he grabbed it to call police. The unknown male kicked the phone out of his hands while Helgen and T.K tried to throw him off the apartment’s balcony ledge.

The victim said after the two failed to do that, Helgen again allegedly rear-neck choked him and dragged him toward the apartment’s hallway, while the other male individuals kicked and punched him.

He said the men eventually got into Helgen’s truck and left so he went to his neighbor to borrow a phone to call police.

The victim noted that, while he was calling police, he followed the suspects. Helgen then allegedly got out of his truck and pulled out what is believed to be a rifle that was about 3 to 4 feet long.

When the victim ducked, he said he saw Helgen get back into his car and leave.