Olds man arrested for Winfield arson

WINFIELD — In less than a week, authorities charged a man from Olds in two separate incidents which occurring in Winfield, including a recent barn fire.

According to Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Arturo Perez arrested Matthew James Jacobs, 23, on Monday, Aug. 28 in connection with a barn fire in the 2200 grid of 110th Street Sunday evening.

“Fire personnel from several agencies responded attempting to put out the fire, which ultimately deemed the barn a total loss,” a news release from the Sheriff’s Office stated.

According to the criminal complaint filed with Henry County Courts, Perez received a tip following the fire that Jacobs posted a Snapchat story on his personal account inside the barn.

“The Snapchat video showed a [point of view] inside the barn with a bale of hay engulfed on fire,” Perez wrote. “The defendant's hand was also observed in the vehicle to have a cut, which is consistent with prior knowledge of the defendant having the same injury during prior contact.”

After obtaining a search warrant, Henry County Deputies and Winfield Police Department interviewed Jacobs.

“I interviewed the defendant about the incident to which he admitted to being in the shed since it was a quiet place for him to hang out at,” Perez detailed in the criminal complaint. “The defendant stated he lit a cigarette in there and when he went to put it out, it caused the barn to catch fire.”

“The defendant then stated he took a Snapchat video of the incident rather than calling 911, and fled the scene as soon as the fire began to grow,” Perez also stated.

Following this investigation and interview, Jacobs was arrested and charged with Arson in the Second Degree (a Class C felony) and Trespassing (a serious misdemeanor).

Only a few days prior to this incident on Tuesday, Aug. 22, Jacobs ran into law enforcement when they received a complaint of a disturbance between Jacobs and a Winfield resident.

Deputy David Norcross and Winfield Police Chief Jeff Dietrich responded to the complaint.

According to court documents, Norcross observed a cut on the victim’s hand and later found Jacobs with blood on his person but no visible injuries which would produce blood.

Norcross stated that this incident occurred in the victim’s home with children present and due to the injury they charged Jacobs with Assault Causing Bodily Injury (a serious misdemeanor).

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com