LAKE HAVASU CITY – An elderly Lake Havasu City man no longer faces prosecution for the chaos he allegedly caused during a March 3 triathlon event. The Mohave County Attorney’s Office has dismissed all the charges and the case against John Welcher, 91.
Police reported that Welcher nearly struck three bicyclists and may have deliberately rammed a police cruiser as an officer tried to stop the vehicle he was operating. Welcher allegedly led police on a chase at up to 90 miles per hour before his vehicle allegedly struck two others at Chenowith Drive on State Route 95.
Welcher faced three counts each of endangerment and criminal damage, two aggravated assault charges and unlawful flight.
Defense counsel was granted a mental health examination that determined him to be incompetent to stand trial. Deputy county attorney Jeff Haws said Dr. Mark Harvancik concluded that Welcher is unable to understand the criminal proceedings and unable to assist his legal counsel.
Accordingly, Haws dismissed all charges.
Dave Hawkins
