17-year-old on probation arrested after allegedly fleeing into stranger’s home, discarding gun
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Arago Laroy Welch, 17, was arrested yesterday afternoon after allegedly running from a traffic stop into a stranger’s home and discarding a gun and holster.
At about 2 p.m. on July 9, Welch was reportedly a passenger in a car that was pulled over by a Gainesville Police Department officer for not being registered. When the officer approached the car, Welch allegedly ran. Another officer reportedly saw Welch run around the corner of a house in the 1100 block of NE 25th Street, crouch down as if discarding an item, and continue behind the house.
Welch allegedly entered the home through the back door. The resident of the home reportedly told an officer that she did not know Welch and he did not have permission to be in her home. After officers gave several announcements over their PA system, Welch reportedly walked out of the front door and surrendered to officers.
The victim gave consent for a search of the house, and officers reportedly found a holster in the bathroom; the victim said there should not be any guns or holsters in the home.
Officers searching the exterior of the house reportedly found a 9mm Glock 26 in the grass on the side of the house, along Welch’s flight path. The red shirt he had been wearing during the traffic stop reportedly was found near the handgun.
Post Miranda, Welch reportedly declined to speak with officers.
Welch has been charged as an adult with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, possession of a firearm by a juvenile convicted of an offense that would be a felony for an adult, tampering with evidence, and resisting an officer without violence. He has two juvenile felony convictions (one violent) and one juvenile misdemeanor conviction (non-violent), including a juvenile conviction for burglary to an occupied structure and resisting an officer without violence out of St. Johns County; he is on probation in an Alachua County case until 2028 for possession of burglary tools. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $85,000 and set a curfew between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Â
I dont think a curfew will keep this scholar off the streets. A cage is where he needs to be. The judge should have ordered a buzz cut of that mop of hair.
Looks like Sideshow Bob’s hair.
Just another misunderstood scholar on his way to conduct cancer research.
That is true. We will never get those two astronauts off the space station if GPD keeps arresting all of NASA’s budding rocket scientists. He’s needed to fix that spacecraft.
We need to start a One Way Bus ticket to Atlanta Fund. Please.
The bond and the curfew it’s stupid, he has a thing for breaking into homes and is armed at the age of 17. what’s next murder? LOCK HIS ASS UP AND KEEP HIM THERE!
And take his parent/parents/guardian to jail with him since he’s still a juvenile.
Fully agree parents should be fined for all cost associated with incident. Time spent by Law Enforcement, Jail housing cost, any medical cost and any damage done by their juvenile delinquent.
I think citizen sane had it right with parent/ parents. Not likely there are 2 thanks to the CR act of ’64.
An example of the type who wanted the UF football staff to march with them ‘honoring’ a felon who died resisting arrest.
Oh…….I’m SURE he will obey ‘curfew.’ He’s already demonstrated how well he follows rules.
Good bye, bayatch. Enjoy raiford from your back door.