An Izard County man is facing multiple charges including assault and endangering the welfare of a minor following an incident Nov. 30 on Dolph Road when he rammed another vehicle with a water department truck.
According to the affidavit for warrant of arrest for 30-year-old Kaleb Welch, filed Nov. 4 in Izard County Circuit Court, authorities were called to a residence on Dolph Road shortly before Noon Nov. 30 with regards to property damage.
When Deputy Brent Engles arrived, he spoke to Anthony Vredenburg who said his brother Phillip had called him stating two teenagers were racing and one of them had run their vehicle off the road, taking out sections of the fence and mailbox.
Phillip said he could hear the trucks racing and when he stopped to clean up the debris out of the roadway, a truck pulled up and the occupant told Phillip he believed the fence had been taken out by Kaleb Welch who was driving the water department truck at the time.
The occupant also said he saw Welch going down his driveway hitting trees and driving in an erratic manner.
After taking photographs of the damage, Engles traveled to the Welch residence to see if the truck was there.
Engles located the truck which had severe damage to the front end and the driver side front time.
Later that afternoon, Engles was dispatched to a home on Dolph Road for a domestic incident and spoke to the victim who said a fight had broken out between themselves and Welch earlier that morning when Welch had begun drinking.
Welch became angry about issues in the past and when the victim attempted to call 911, Welch took the phone away preventing her from calling for help. He also would not let the victim leave the residence.
Once she saw an opportunity, she ran to a vehicle along with a second victim, a three-year-old child and locked the two inside.
The victims then attempted to leave when Welch jumped on the truck and began punching the window.
Soon after, the victims were able to leave and began driving away when they noticed Welch following them in his work truck.
She stated Welch then drove beside and rammed into the vehicle with his work truck causing the victim to exit the roadway and enter the ditch.
Welch then lost control of his truck and struck the fence at the Vredenburg property.
The victim then drove to another road to avoid Welch and was then escorted to a safe location by another individual.
Engles noted the woman’s left eye appeared to be bruised and when he inquired about it, the victim stated Welch had struck her several times with an open hand.
The victim also stated Welch had pinned her down and at one point, had his hands around her throat but was not choking her.
The victim also had blood on her clothes and said it was due to biting Welch to get free after he forced his tongue inside her mouth.
Welch later found the victim at the home she had traveled to for safety and attempted to forcefully take the three-year-old child. When met with resistance from the victim and the property owner, Welch eventually left the residence.
On Nov. 3, Investigator Sean Tomlinson spoke with Vrendenburg about the property damage caused by Welch and the damage was estimated to be more than $1,000 but less than $5,000.
As a result, Welch has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, a class D felony; endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree, a class D felony; one count of domestic battery in the third degree and one count criminal mischief In the second degree, both class A misdemeanors.
judge David Miller issued “no bond” for Welch.
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