Corbin man arrested for kidnapping, beating girlfriend on Father’s Day

A Corbin man is in jail for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting his girlfriend over the weekend, and then fighting with police officers who came to her rescue.

Ricky Alan Helton, 46, was charged with fourth-degree assault, kidnapping, resisting arrest and giving and officer a false name or address following an investigation into the incident by police.

According to Corbin Police Sgt. Rob Hodge, Helton and his girlfriend Crystal Shoupe got into an argument Sunday afternoon that turned violent. Shoupe wanted to leave his residence at 175 W. Hinkle Ave., but he wouldn’t allow her to go.

After four hours of allegedly being detained against her will, Shoupe was able to leave the home after she bit Helton on the hands.

"He was bleeding pretty good out of his hands when we got there," Hodge said. "She was either his current or ex-girlfriend. It depends on who you ask."

Authorities said Shoupe wanted to leave Helton’s home shortly after the argument began. She told police he grabbed her and dragged her back into the house by her hair and assaulted her several times, punching her in the nose and the eye.

"She had handprints on her arm where she had been held down. Her right knee was messed up and there was hair all over her clothes where you could tell it had been yanked out," Hodge said.

Police met Shoupe, who was driving a truck, on the way to the home. Apparently, she was able to use a phone to dial 911 while in the home before escaping. She was calling police again on a cell phone when they arrived.

Hodge said Helton was completely uncooperative with the investigation.

"He basically told us to get off his property and that he didn’t have time to fool with us. He said he needed to mow his yard," Hodge said. "We had to physically restrain him to get him into the car."

As of press time Tuesday, Helton remained in the Whitley County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash bond.

Police did not say what sparked the argument between Helton and Shoupe.