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Posted on Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:20 p.m.

Police say man brought handgun, vodka to Ann Arbor hair salon

By Lee Higgins

Ann Arbor police said a man is facing charges after he brought a handgun last month to a hair salon, drank vodka there and later resisted arrest.

Joseph John Welch, 50, of Ann Arbor, was charged Tuesday with resisting and obstructing police, brandishing a firearm in public and two counts of possessing a firearm while under the influence. He has not yet been arraigned in court.

Lt. Mark St. Amour said Welch walked into Lady Jane's hair salon at 3365 Washtenaw Avenue on Aug. 31 with an open bottle of vodka that he drank at the salon.

As Welch got up from the barber's chair, a handgun fell from his waistband, but he didn't notice, St. Amour said. Someone at the salon called police about 4:51 p.m., police said.

While officers were at the business, St. Amour said Welch returned and had another handgun with him. Welch refused officers' orders to hand it over, St. Amour said. Police used a stun gun on Welch and took him into custody, St. Amour said.

Police said the two handguns seized were not loaded.

It's unclear when Welch will appear in court.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.

Comments

AA

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.

Clip Joint.

smokeblwr

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 3:51 p.m.

This article got greenlit of FARK.com. We've hit the big time with our weird and wacky news!

racerx

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 3:32 p.m.

So. If he had a CCW permit, all except for drinking and resisting would had been ok?

Ricebrnr

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 4:39 p.m.

well but for those things what laws were being broken?

Atticus F.

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.

Good job by the AAPD. This person would probably be dead right now if this incident took place in Saline or Canton.

Hmm

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 1:28 p.m.

It's wicked awesome! LOL

Candis Hale

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 2:46 a.m.

It seems all he wanted to do was get a hair cut n drink some vodka with a hand gun in his hand... what's wrong with that? LOL what is going on in Ann Arbor lately...

Ricebrnr

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 3:06 a.m.

Hmmm I must've have missed in the report above where the firearm was in his hand at any time...

smokeblwr

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:41 a.m.

I've never been to Lady Jane's but I've heard their commercials on the radio, which is enough for me to not want to go there. I think the strangest thing in the article is that HE DRANK A BOTTLE OF VODKA IN THE SALON and then got his haircut. Wouldn't any normal business kick out a patron who was openly drinking? But LJ's is "wicked awesome".

Ricebrnr

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:12 a.m.

Why overlook the drinking and being intoxicated too Bob? Let me guess... It is because you drink and therefore have a personal stake in that subect,whereas you have no firearms or firearms experience thus making it ok to hate on guns. May I remind you the only thing loaded was allegedly Mr Welch. And the most dangerous thing he had on him ws that booze.

madnailer

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.

I sometimes get such a headache trying to read the news stories here. So much info not included. It's like a 10 year old trying to tell me a story.

cinnabar7071

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 10:36 p.m.

Bob Martel the NRA didnt over look anything. And I'm sure they support his arrest and prosecution. Now watch as the democrat prosecuting attorney over looks charging him every crime hes accused of.

Bob Martel

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 10:13 p.m.

Looks like the NRA overlooked the right to bear arms while intoxicated and acting like a genuine jerk. I suspect that this will be a campaign issue in future elections.

HardWorker

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:47 p.m.

"While officers were at the business, St. Amour said Welch returned and had another handgun ..." That statement gives the wrong idea of "St. Amour talking about Welch" and "police at the business" happening at the same time. This type of error is very common in articles from AnnArbor.com and the Detroit Free Press. It makes the article more confusing. The correct sentence would be: "St. Amour said that while officers were at the business, Welch returned and had another handgun ..." Also, please avoid repetitive phrases. There's a paragraph with three ", St. Amour said". It's redundant.

Homeland Conspiracy

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.

I want to know if he was in his underwear too...after all Lady Jane's is for men only.

treetowncartel

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:06 p.m.

I think if he was intoxicated it wasn't proper. Does it matter if it had rounds in it?

julieswhimsies

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:03 p.m.

Now I've heard everything.....nooooo...probably not.

Ricebrnr

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 8:50 p.m.

Sure would be nice to know if the handguns were properly registered and if Mr. Welch was properly licensed to carry them concealed.

Smart Logic

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 9:37 a.m.

Yes, though either way the alcohol counts him out. If that is the case, they should permanently revoke his carry permit.