By Ray King
A $100,000 bond was set Monday for a Pine Bluff man accused of firing multiple shots at another man Saturday.
Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney set the bond after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge Clifton Welch Sr., 49, with aggravated assault, terroristic act and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Deputy Prosecutor Jay Girard said during the court hearing that Jefferson County Sheriff’s Sgt. Courtney Kelly was off-duty and in his personal vehicle at about 8 p.m. when he saw a man later identified as Welch firing shots at a second man in the 2100 block of Poplar Street, then leave the scene in a vehicle.
Kelly followed the man to an apartment complex at 26th Avenue and Olive Street. Welch reportedly said “I guess I busted that (expletive) not knowing that Kelly was a deputy sheriff. Girard said Kelly understood Welch’s statement meant that Welch had shot at the victim.
The victim said he and Welch had an “on-going feud” for about two months and he believed that Welch was having relations with the victim’s girlfriend. He said Welch constantly harassed him and had fired four or five shots at him that night.
Officers located spent shell casings at the scene and a black handgun that was sitting on a pillow in the front seat of Welch’s vehicle.
A warrant check showed that Welch had previously been convicted of a felony and there is currently an absconder warrant and parole hold for him.
The Public Defender’s Office was appointed to represent Welch and he was ordered to have no contact with the victim or go near the victim’s residence until the case is settled.
