Alachua County deputies arrested a Gainesville man early Saturday morning after responding to reports of a violent disturbance inside a home on SW 20th Ave.
Just after midnight on November 15th, multiple callers reported hearing a woman in distress. When deputies arrived, they found a pregnant victim who said a verbal argument with the suspect, 28-year-old Elijah Dantrell Welch, had escalated into a physical altercation. Deputies also learned the incident occurred near juveniles inside the home and that Welch appeared to be intoxicated.
After confirming Welch was still inside, deputies tried repeatedly to contact him. He ignored multiple commands to come out, forcing deputies to make entry into the residence. Welch then barricaded himself in a locked room, continuing to ignore orders even after deputies issued warnings that a police K-9 would be used if he refused to surrender.
When deputies forced entry into the room, Welch attempted to hide behind furniture. He was taken into custody by a sheriff’s office K-9 after continuing to resist verbal commands. Deputies said they found damage throughout the home attributed to Welch and noted an area where he had urinated on furniture where juveniles had been lying.
Welch was taken to a local hospital for medical clearance and later booked into jail. He is charged with aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, child neglect without great bodily harm, and resisting without violence.
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