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.

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