Glock goes off inside Oak Harbor man’s pocket, hits toes

By JESSIE STENSLAND
Whidbey News Times Assistant editor
April 12, 2011 · Updated 11:50 AM 

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A 28-year-old Oak Harbor man accidentally shot himself in the foot early Monday morning with a loaded .40-caliber Glock that he had stuck in his pocket, according to Oak Harbor police.

Police Chief Rick Wallace said the man stepped outside his apartment on SE Pasek Street for a smoke break and jammed the handgun in his pocket. The man thought that the gun was unloaded, Wallace said, and for some reason he put his hand in his pocket and pulled the trigger.

The bullet went through the man’s shoe and between two toes, causing a minor injuries to the toes. He declined medical treatment.

“He was very lucky,” Wallace said.

Wallace said the man was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, but officers are reviewing the case with the city prosecutor’s office and the charge could be upgraded to reckless endangerment.

Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.

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