Homeless man with 65 convictions arrested for burglary and property damage after allegedly destroying appliances in unoccupied apartment

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kelly Nicholas Welch, 63, has been charged with burglary and property damage after allegedly destroying the appliances in an apartment he was previously evicted from, causing at least $15,000 in damage.

A Gainesville Police Department officer reported that at about 9 p.m. on November 15, the maintenance supervisor at Village Crossing Apartments (501 SE 18th Street) heard a man screaming and breaking things. He ran toward the sound and reportedly saw Welch throwing things out of an unoccupied apartment.

The supervisor said Welch had previously lived in the apartment, but he was evicted two weeks ago, while he was in jail (Welch was released from the Alachua County Jail on November 15). The supervisor said Welch was throwing items out of the apartment and yelling, “Why did you do this to me?”

The supervisor told Welch to leave, but he allegedly refused and kept screaming; Welch reportedly walked toward the supervisor, who pushed him away, and then he left the area before the officer arrived.

The officer reported that the apartment was being renovated, and there were no items belonging to Welch in the apartment, so Welch had no reason to be there.

The supervisor reported that the refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, and toilet fixtures were damaged beyond repair, and a closet, walls, and windows were damaged; two or three inches of water/sewage were on the floor. The damages could not be immediately estimated but were at least $15,000.

The officer reported that Welch probably entered the apartment by breaking a window because there was “a good amount of blood” near the window and on the walls.

Welch, who is described as homeless in the arrest report, has been charged with burglary and felony property damage. He has 23 felony convictions (two violent) and 42 misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served four state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2023. Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $2,500.

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.