Man jailed for girlfriend's injuries

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police arrested a West Side man early Saturday after reports said his girlfriend told officers he had head-butted her throughout the night and would not let her go.

Police were called to a home in the 100 block of North Belle Vista Avenue about 6 a.m. for a report of loud noise. When they arrived, they found Michael Welsh, 42, inside the home. Reports said Welsh appeared to be inebriated.

According to police, the officers told Welsh they were called to the home for the noise, and he told them the noise was from his kitten playing in the home. He denied drinking despite the fact the living room was littered with empty beer cans, reports said.

Reports said Welsh told police his girlfriend was in the home when they asked if anyone else was there. The woman told police she had been arguing with Welsh all night and he head-butted her repeatedly.

She said he would knock her to the ground whenever she tried to leave.

Police said she was bleeding from her face, had scrapes and cuts on her arms and appeared to have a stab wound to her lower back.

Police arrested Welsh on a charge of felonious assault and took him to the Mahoning County jail. Reports did not say if the woman received any treatment for her injuries.