Suspect Arrested for Multiple Felony Charges Following a Drive-by Shooting
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a reported drive-by shooting at a residence in the Newman Lake area. Deputies arrived and thankfully found no one had been injured. Through their investigation, Deputies identified a suspect and developed probable cause to charge him with multiple felony charges, and he was later booked into jail.
On August 2, 2025, at approximately 9:30 pm, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported drive-by shooting at a residence on N. McCoy Road, north of E. Moffat Road, in the Newman Lake area.
Arriving Deputies found several people at the home, but thankfully, no one was injured.
Through their investigation, including witness statements, Deputies learned the suspect was 32-year-old Robert D. Utecht. They also discovered Utecht is the respondent of a valid protection order issued by the courts, which prohibits him from being within 1000 feet of the victim’s property. Witnesses described seeing Utecht’s vehicle, a dark blue/teal Chevrolet Tahoe with a loud muffler, driving slowly by the residence. As it did, suddenly multiple gunshots were heard, causing the victims to take cover to avoid being shot, as the vehicle sped off.
After compiling the information and evidence, Deputies developed probable cause to charge Utecht with several felony charges.
With Spokane Valley Deputies, Liberty Lake Police Officers, K9 Units, and UAV operators assisting, a perimeter was established around Utecht’s residence on N. Sedge Lane, south of N. Baneberry Lane in Liberty Lake.
Several PA announcements advising Utecht to surrender peacefully were given, and at approximately 11:55 pm, Utecht followed the commands and was taken into custody without further incident.
Utecht was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for five counts of Assault 1st Degree, Drive-by Shooting, and two counts of Violation of a Protection Order with Assault. The following day at his court appearance, Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner E. Cruz set Utecht’s total bond at $500,000, and he remains in custody.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for Utecht’s home and vehicle. The Spokane County Forensic Unit assisted in documenting and collecting evidence.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Suspect Arrested for Multiple Felony Charges Following a Drive-by Shooting" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7