Mattawa man shot by police pleads guilty

Sentencing set for Tuesday

MATTAWA - A man shot by Mattawa police on Jan. 1 pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of hit and run involving parked vehicles, resisting arrest and attempted assault, his attorney said.

The incident ended with Ruben Lucio Jr., 23, being shot by police after he reportedly tried to back over an officer with a GMC Yukon.

Lucio was involved in a confrontation with police on Jan. 1 when they were called to a reported fight in an alley near North Boundary Avenue in Mattawa.

Police spotted Ruben Lucio's uncle Jose Lucio near the alley. At the time, Jose Lucio was a suspect in a burglary.

Mattawa Police officer Shane Starnes reportedly ordered Jose Lucio to bring his hands into view and he allegedly refused, court documents state.

Starnes heard the passenger door of the nearby Yukon close, the vehicle start up and come toward him. He again tried to get Jose Lucio to cooperate, but Lucio allegedly didn't and was Tasered by Starnes.

Starnes changed weapons and fired his pistol and another officer, Jose Chiprez, tried to shoot the tires. Nine rounds were reportedly fired by Starnes. Lucio was hit in the upper right arm and chest area.

Lucio was charged with two counts of hit and run unattended, two counts of resisting arrest and one count of attempted assault. Out of the four total charges, two of the hit and run and resisting arrest charges were dismissed, said his public defense attorney Karen Lindholdt.

The hit and run charge stemmed from Lucio hitting parked vehicles during the incident, she said.

Lucio's sentencing is set for Tuesday, she said.

The standard sentencing range for the charges is between 17 months to 22 months, she said.

The state is recommending the high end of the range and the defense is seeking the low end, Lindholdt said.