Man accused of using hammer in attack

A 21-year-old Spokane man was arrested on suspicion of domestic assault after two witnesses said he attacked them with a hammer.

Deputy Ken Reed was called to an apartment in the 5000 block of East Buckeye at about 4:45 a.m. Friday after a 24-year-old woman was able to escape and call 911, sheriff’s spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said in a press release.

The woman pointed out the suspect across the parking lot and Reed arrested 21-year-old Marcelino Olvera Jr., of 7317 N. Hamilton, Reagan said.

The incident occurred after the woman agreed to give Olvera and another man a ride to her apartment. She told Olvera that she didn’t want him to stay, Reagan said.

Once inside, the suspect demanded to stay and pushed the victim and the other man into a bedroom. When the woman began to scream, the suspect grabbed a hammer and threatened both her and the man, Reagan said.

When the woman tried to reach the telephone, the suspect bit her, Reagan said. He tried to strike her with the hammer but she ducked and it hit the wall instead, Reagan said.

The other man was able to wrest the hammer away from the suspect. However, the woman wasn’t able to call authorities until the man left at 4:45 a.m. with her purse, Reagan said.

Reed booked Olvera into jail on two counts of second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment, Reagan said.