Gainesville man arrested for allegedly biting off part of roommate’s ear

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dwight Anterrio Welch, 59, was arrested yesterday after allegedly biting off the upper half of his roommate’s ear and threatening to kill two people with a screwdriver.

At about 5:00 p.m. yesterday, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to a call regarding a battery at Campus Walk Apartments. The male victim, who was transported to an emergency room by a family member, told the officer that Welch attacked him after confronting him about burning food that made the apartment smoky. He said that while he was standing at the front door to get fresh air, Welch started punching him and bit off a chunk of the top of his ear.

A woman told the officer that she saw Welch on top of the victim, punching him, and she intervened when she saw Welch take a screwdriver from his pocket; she said that Welch said he would kill both victims before slapping her and going back to his room. The officer said the woman picked up the top of the male victim’s ear from the floor and showed it to him. The officer also reported that he saw blood spatter throughout the living room of the apartment.

The officer’s investigation found that Welch had punched the male victim while he was standing in the doorway and the male victim blocked the punch, but Welch kept punching him. The male victim fell backward, with Welch falling on top of him. Welch bit off a chunk of the male victim’s ear, then produced a long screwdriver but was stopped by the female victim before he could use it; the female victim then pushed Welch off the male victim.

The officer spoke with Welch at his apartment and reported that Welch had blood on his shirt.

Post Miranda, Welch reportedly said he’d had a physical fight with the male victim but denied biting his ear off. He reportedly said the blood on his shirt came from pushing the male victim. When asked whether he had slapped the female victim, he reportedly admitted he had pushed her to get to his room.

Welch has been charged with aggravated battery causing bodily injury, battery on a person over 65, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and simple battery.

Welch has four misdemeanor convictions (none violent). Judge Thomas Jaworski found no probable cause for the charge of battery on a person over 65 and changed it to simple battery; he set a total bail of $11,000.

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.