Suspicious Person with a Gun Report
June 28, 2017
On Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 5:07pm, Officers with the Portsmouth Police Department responded to the Circle K Convenience Store at 2470 Lafayette Road for a report of a man brandishing a firearm in the parking lot.
The witness reported that as she pulled into the business, she saw a man walking through the parking lot with a firearm in his hand. To the witness, it appeared the suspect was attempting to conceal weapon under his clothing as he walked towards the front of the business. Fearing for her safety, the witness drove to a remote location where she immediately called police.
Upon arrival, officers located the suspect and two other suspects (one male and one female) hiding in the bushes behind the business. In plain view on the two male suspects were fixed-blade knives. During the process of detaining these individuals one male, failing to comply with police commands, approached a Portsmouth Police Canine Officer. As a result of that act, the police canine made contact with the advancing suspect. That individual was immediately arrested. The other two suspects were detained without incident.
The suspect who confronted the Canine Officer was evaluated at the scene by emergency medical personnel and found to have no injuries. He is being charged as a juvenile through the 10th Circuit Portsmouth Family Court. The specifics of these charges may be released at a later time at the discretion of a Portsmouth Police Detective Supervisor.
Subsequent investigation at the scene lead to the arrest of arrest of:
Tyler Welch (DOB: 02/04/1997)
138 Bartlett Street Unit C
Portsmouth NH
Tyler Welch is charged with:
- Disorderly Conduct- Class A Misdemeanor
- Breach of Bail- Class A Misdemeanor
Welch is charged with Disorderly Conduct in that he did disrupt the orderly conduct of a business by knowingly being on the property of said business while brandishing a firearm.
Additionally, Welch is currently out on bail (through the Portsmouth District Court) for an arrest that occurred June 16, 2017 where he was charged with Possession of a Controlled Drug with the Intent to Sell (Class B Felony) and Criminal Trespass (Class A Misdemeanor).
This warrants a second charge for Breach of Bail. An individual charged with Breach of Bail is not eligible for bail and as such, Welch was transported to the Rockingham County Jail where he will be video arraigned in Portsmouth District Court tomorrow morning.
The third suspect, a female juvenile, was taken into protective custody. Charges are pending but if pursued, she will be charged through the 10th Circuit Portsmouth Family Court as a juvenile.
Post-arrest, all three suspects were searched and all three were found to be in possession of air pistols. Some of these weapons were loaded and air-charged thus they immediately capable of firing a metal projectile. All three suspects were also armed with assorted knives and all possessed clothing which may have been intended to conceal their identity. (See accompanying pictures.)
This remains an active investigation and the Portsmouth Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance with this case. Anyone who witnessed this event or who may have information relevant to the suspect’s intentions that evening are encouraged to contact Officer Scott Pearl at the Portsmouth Police Department at (603) 610-7631.
You can also contact Seacoast Crime Stoppers by leaving an anonymous tip at (603) 431-1199 or at seacoastcrimestoppers.org. You can also text your tip to CRIMES (274637) with the letters "TIPSCS" and leave your tip that way. If your tip leads to an arrest or indictment of the individual you could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. For Chief Robert Merner by Sgt. Kuffer R. Kaltenborn Uniformed Patrol Division