A man wanted on three warrants tried to flee on foot from officers during a traffic stop on State Road 54 near Arby’s late last Friday night. He didn’t get far.

David Anthony Andreola-Welch, 38, Linton, was arrested by Officer Adam King of the Linton Police Department early Saturday, January 25. Andreola-Welch was booked into the Greene County Jail around 1:05 a.m. His bond in Greene County was set at $2,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed.

At least three officers, LPD Officers King, Joe Riley and Kyle Robison, were involved in an incident that started with a traffic stop around 11 p.m. on Friday, January 24.

Officer Riley, the lead investigator, said Officer Robison stopped a silver Hyundai on State Road 54 in front of Arby’s Restaurant in Linton for only having one operating headlight. The driver was identified and cooperated but her passenger, later identified as Andreola-Welch, said his name was David Smith and that he didn’t have any identification. The driver had informed an officer of his real name and Andreola-Welch was removed from the vehicle while officers tried to determine his true identity.

Officer Riley said while Officers Robison and King were conducting the normal business of a traffic stop, he went back to his own patrol vehicle to get his K-9 partner Kona. At that point, Andreola-Welch bolted south across the highway and ran into a parking lot of a liquor store located across the road from the restaurant.

Both Officer Riley and Officer King gave chase while ordering Andreola-Welch to stop. He didn’t stop but it was a short chase. Officer Riley deployed his tazer which hit Andreola-Welch in the back but he continued to flee. Andreola-Welch then slipped on the asphalt and fell. Officer Riley was able to grab him and Andreola-Welch was taken into custody.

It turned out Andreola-Welch was wanted on three different warrants issued out of Monroe County for alleged probation violations.

Welch was transported to Greene County General Hospital for medical clearance, then transported to jail.

Andreola-Welch appeared in Greene Superior Court yesterday, on Monday, January 27, and was formally charged with false informing resulting in substantial hindrance to a law enforcement procedure, a Class A misdemeanor, and resisting law enforcement – knowingly or intentionally forcibly resists, a Class A misdemeanor.