SPD officer put on leave after reportedly brandishing shotgun at teen girl

SABINE PARISH, La. (KSLA) - A Shreveport police officer recently was arrested for reportedly pulling a gun on someone while off duty. The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened back on Sept. 23 around 10:40 p.m. at Welch’s campsite at Cypress Bend RV Park. Officers were called out about a disturbance at the park. Officials said Sgt. Matthew Welch Sr. and two females were involved in some sort of altercation. At some point during the altercation, Sgt. Welch went into his vehicle and retrieved the shotgun, officials said. The sheriff’s office said he came back to the campsite and approached a 15-year-old girl. He reportedly knocked her phone out of her hand and pointed the shotgun at her. A witness who does not want to be named details what happened. “Some of our party go in to help break up the fight and the rest of us are getting the kids, trying to calm them down. And then another guy that was there, he ended up getting Mr. Welch in a passenger side of a truck. And he’s sitting there and then we’re there still with the kids. And the next thing we see is him come out of the truck with a gun and go up to the 15-year-old and knocks her phone out of her hand and puts the gun to her and she grabs the gun. When her Dad sees that, he comes and has to wrestle the gun from him.” Cpl. Chris Bordelon confirms Sgt. Welch was placed on administrative leave. He said Welch was off the clock during the incident and was out of his jurisdiction. Sgt. Welch faces charges of aggravated assault and simple battery. He turned himself in to authorities on Sept. 29. His bond was set at $15,000. The sheriff’s office also says it’s believed a male hit Sgt. Welch while he was at his car retrieving the weapon. Authorities are looking for that man. The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office is further investigating the incident.