Spokane police arrest man after water bottle theft led to machete incident

SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane police have arrested a man after he allegedly stole a water bottle and brandished a machete when confronted by a community member.

According to the Spokane Police Department (SPD), officers responded to the area of ​​1500 E Illinois Avenue around 8:30 a.m. on June 18 after receiving a 911 call reporting that Kyle M. Bowen was threatening someone with a machete.

According to police, the incident began when a community member confronted Bowen about stealing a water bottle. Bowen then allegedly pulled out a machete and fled on foot.

Witnesses reported that Bowen raised the machete in a threatening manner before leaving the scene. The community member pursued Bowen, who stopped and again displayed the machete while making threats.

SPD officers quickly arrived at the scene, located Bowen, and arrested him without incident. The machete was found on the ground nearby.

After an investigation, police found probable cause to arrest Bowen for first-degree robbery. He was booked into the Spokane County Jail, where he remains in custody. Bowen is also charged with second-degree assault. Police discovered that Bowen had a lengthy criminal history, including previous convictions for possession of a controlled substance.

FOX28 Spokane©