NEWMAN LAKE, Wash. – The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who reportedly shot another person in the foot during an altercation.
On April 17, around 7:05 p.m., deputies responded to a reported shooting in the 10900 block of North McCoy Road in Newman Lake. Deputies say the caller stated a man was shot in the foot and the suspect left the scene in a car.
Minutes later, deputies said the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Robert D. Utecht, called and reported the information. Spokane deputies Utecht agreed to meet with deputies and was detained at approximately 7:45 p.m.
Initial information indicates Utecht and the victim know each other and were involved in a work-related argument that escalated and became heated. The victim approached Utecht, and Utecht pushed him away.
Deputies say the victim again approached, stopped, and started to turn away. Simultaneously, Utecht pulled a handgun from his pocket and fired into the ground near the victim. The victim again began to approach Utecht, who started to back up while appearing to now be aiming the pistol and fired and hit the victim’s foot.
Spokane deputies located the suspect’s vehicle and observed what appeared to be a handgun lying on the driver’s seat with a magazine next to it.
Utecht was transported and booked into Spokane County Jail and could face First Degree Assault Charges.
