5-inch blade used in Ronan stabbing

POLSON — After appearing in Judge Chuck Wall’s court on August 18, Allen Metzger is being held at the Lake County Detention Center without bond.

Metzger is accused of deliberate homicide and carrying a concealed weapon in a prohibited place in connection with the death of James Finch.

The alleged incident took place at 8:25 p.m. on Aug. 16 inside the men’s bathroom at the Valley Club, a Ronan bar.

According to court records, when Ronan police officers first spoke to Metzger after the alleged altercation, Metzger said “that he had just stabbed a guy in the Valley Club Bar.”

Metzger also identified the alleged victim as James Finch.

Witnesses said Finch and Metzger were in the bathroom when the alleged altercation began.

Metzger said he had gotten up from talking to friends to use the bathroom. While standing at the urinal, Metzger said Finch came into the bathroom and hit him in the head.

Court records state that Metzger then “pulled [Metzger’s] knife out of the pocket of [Metzger’s] sweatshirt and swung it.” Metzger said he didn’t know whether he had struck Finch.

Finch walked out of the bathroom, followed by Metzger who said he “had stabbed or ‘shanked’” Finch.

The knife in question had a double-edged, 5-inch long blade and appeared to still have blood on it when Ronan police officers collected it as evidence, according to court records.

Finch later died while being transported by air ambulance from St. Luke Medical Center to Missoula.

Metzger’s case has been transferred from Justice Court to District Court,  Lake County Attorney Mitchell A. Young said.

Metzger’s initial district court appearance has not been scheduled.