May 29, 2022 - MERCED- Austin Welch (23) was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.
On Sunday, May 29th at 12:19 AM, officers responded to Zoomy’s 76 Gas Station at 3006 G Street for an assault.
The 27-year-old victim had just finished pumping gas when Welch approached her at her vehicle. Welch swung a metal object that was wrapped in blanket and hit the victim on her arm. The victim did not sustain any significant injuries.
Welch left the area after the assault. Officers reviewed surveillance footage and located Welch near the 3200 block of G Street. Welch was identified and arrested. Officers discovered the metal object wrapped in the blanket was a bladed machete.
Welch was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and booked at the Merced County Jail.
Case Number: 22-31530
Merced Police are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Officer Adrian Opinski at (209) 385-6905 or by email at opinskia@cityofmerced.org.
Other ways to contact us or report a crime include:
For any emergency call or text 911.
For non-emergency call 209-385-6912.
Anonymous Tip Line (Non-Emergency) call 209-385-4725.
Anonymous Tips online at http://www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org/index.html.
Some crimes can be reported online through the Merced PD website https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/police.
Source & photos: Merced Police Department
