Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Parolee to be arraigned today on six felony counts relating to beating of girlfriend and endangerment of infant son

VISTA - A parolee accused of severely beating his girlfriend near their Pauma Valley home and fleeing with their baby, who later turned up safe, is scheduled to be arraigned today, Thurs., June 20.

Kenneth Wayne Welch, 42, was booked into jail on six felony charges including suspicion of attempted murder, assault, child endangerment, domestic violence, evading police and violating conditions of his parole. He has been held without bail pending arraignment.

Deputies investigating a reported domestic dispute shortly after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, found the defendant's girlfriend in a neighborhood off the 22000 block of State Route 76, sheriff's officials said.

The victim told investigators that Welch had attacked her during an argument as they sat with their son inside a parked vehicle in the area, not far from their home on the La Jolla Indian Reservation, Lt. James Bolwerk said.

The badly hurt woman managed to escape and run off, after which Welch drove away with the child. Bolwerk said. Medics took the victim to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries to her head and face.

Authorities, meanwhile, issued a statewide child-abduction alert while trying to locate Welch, who was believed to be armed with a knife, to pose a threat to the baby and possibly suicidal, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Several hours later, a relative of Welch's who lives in Oceanside called police to report the suspect had dropped off the infant and left, the lieutenant said. The child, who was unharmed, was taken into protective custody.

Shortly before 10 a.m., deputies spotted Welch driving through western Vista. Following a brief road and foot chase, they arrested him in the 1100 block of Marine View Drive, just east of South Melrose Drive, Bolwerk said.

(previous version)

Man who beat girlfriend and took off with 5-month-old son now in jail, charged with 6 felony counts; baby safe

Debbie Ramsey

Managing Editor

A man who severely beat his girlfriend and took off with the couple's five month old son was captured by officers eight hours later.

At about 1:30 a.m. today (Tues., June 18), parolee 42-year-old Kenneth Welch assaulted his girlfriend near their Pauma Valley home, leaving the woman with serious head injuries. After an emergency call came in about the incident, responding deputies found the injured woman in a neighborhood off the 22000 block of State Route 76 and had her transported to an area hospital.

"While she did sustain head and facial injuries, there is no indication that she won't make a full recovery at this point," said Lt. Jim Bolwerk, of the Sheriff's Family Protection Detail.

The victim told investigators that Welch had attacked her during an argument as they sat with their son inside a parked vehicle in the area, not far from their home on the La Jolla Indian Reservation, Bolwerk said.

The victim managed to escape from Welch and run off, after which Welch left the scene taking the couple's five-month-old son with him. At that point, law enforcement launched a manhunt and statewide Amber Alert for the infant. The victim said Welch had threatened to hurt the child.

Later in the morning, a relative of Welch's who lives in Oceanside called authorities to report that the suspect had dropped off the infant and then left, the lieutenant said. The child, who was unharmed, was taken into protective custody.

A little over eight hours later, at about 10 a.m., patrol deputies spotted Welch in the 1100 block of Marine View Drive in Vista, near the border of unincorporated Vista east of South Melrose Drive.

Following a brief road and foot chase, officers arrested Welch.

"His capture was the result of all-around great team work by our detectives and deputies, and assistance from the ASTREA helicopter," said Bolwerk. "We also really appreciate the amount of help we were offered by other agencies as well."

Welch was booked into Vista jail on six felony counts: attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, felony domestic violence, felony evading, felony child endangerment, and felony parole violation.

He is being held without bail. Welch's arraignment in court is scheduled for Thursday, June 20.

(previous version)

UPDATE: 5-month-old baby found safe, parolee taken into custody

VISTA - A five-month-old baby abducted in Valley Center by a domestic violence suspect was found safe. An amber alert issued for Kenneth Nusun Welch has been cancelled. The suspect in this case was taken into custody in Vista just before 10 a.m.

The incident started just before 2 a.m when deputies in Valley Center responded to a domestic violence call on Poomacha Road. Deputies found an injured woman. She was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Deputies also learned the woman's boyfriend, Kenneth Wayne Welch, snatched their five-month-old son and threatened to harm the baby.

Manhunt under way for parolee after attempted murder and kidnapping of 5-month-old

VALLEY CENTER - A manhunt was under way for a high-risk parolee who attempted to kill his girlfriend, then snatched their 5-month-old son in the Valley Center area early today, authorities said.

Kenneth Wayne Welch, 42, is wanted on suspicion of attempted murder, kidnapping and other crimes, according to San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies received a call around 1:40 a.m. about a domestic violence incident at a residence on Poomacha Road, dispatch supervisor Shannon Powers- Hereford said.

Once there, they found Welch's girlfriend suffered from severe head and face injuries and learned that Welch had fled with the couple's 5-month-old son, also named Kenneth, she said.

Paramedics rushed the victim to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, Powers-Hereford said.

Welch is described as Filipino, 5 feet 10 and 195 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes and long hair that he frequently pulls back in braids. He has tattoos and drives a lowered 1994 Toyota truck, with California license plate No. 4X9972 and 20-inch chrome wheels, Powers-Hereford said.

Anyone who spots Welch should call 911 immediately.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/28/2024 07:29