A Newton area man has been booked into the Harvey County jail on a pending murder charge following a fight that left another man dead on Dec. 31.
Andrew F. Martinez, 35, Newton is being held without bond in the Harvey County Jail on pending charge of First Degree Murder as well as a misdemeanor domestic battery charge.
Police arrested Martinez after initially responding at 10:27 p.m. Dec. 31 to a report from a woman that she was in a physical altercation with a man in the 300 Block of SE Fourth St.
According to Newton Public Information Officer Erin McDaniel, police believe a fight began in a residence in the area and then spilled out onto the lawn.
As police responded, they received more information about the event, including a report that there was a male on the ground bleeding.
A release from the police department stated that law enforcement attempted to provide medical attention to the male victim found on the sidewalk, who was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The release said witnesses gave a description of the person who injured the male victim and that police later apprehended a suspect in the crime, identified as Martinez, on foot in the area.
According to McDaniel, Martinez was treated at Newton Medical Center for a broken hand before being booked into the county jail. McDaniel said police believe that alcohol played a role in the fight.
The city released the victim’s name as Robert S. Flores Sr., 53, of Newton. McDaniel stated that Flores died from injuries sustained in the fight.
Currently, a benefit softball tournament and fundraiser has been organized for the Flores family to take place Feb. 1 at the Cessna Activity Center, 2744 S George Washington Blvd, Wichita, Kan.
