Knife fight brings felony charges

POLSON — A Pablo man is being held at the Lake County Detention Center on three felony charges after an altercation with a knife last Thursday night left both the victim and alleged assailant in the hospital.

Nathan Lawrence Fisher, 23, is charged with assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and attempted deliberate homicide, all felonies that could result in Fisher spending the rest of his life in prison.

The charges stem from an incident the night of Jan. 28 at the South Shore Lounge in Polson. According to Polson Police Chief Doug Chase, a call came in around 11:30 p.m. requesting an ambulance to the South Shore because of stabbing wounds sustained by victim Cody McKay, 24. Officers Devon McCrea, William Cleveland and Chris Dentler were several of the first responders on the scene. They secured the area while getting appropriate medical attention to both the victim and assailant.

“The call went out as a stabbing at the South Shore, so that’s an ‘all come’ call,” Chase said.

Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies and a Montana Highway Patrolman responded as well.

The two were outside the when scuffle ensued. A 3-inch blade was allegedly produced by Fisher and used against the victim, creating 17 different stab wounds to McKay’s head, neck, shoulders and abdomen.

“I didn’t even realize I’d been stabbed at first,” McKay said in an exclusive interview with the Leader. “Then I felt my shirt getting wet.”

The victim was transported to St. Joseph’s Medical Center for treatment, but was transferred to St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula because of the severity of his injuries. McKay received 63 stitches.

Fisher was treated at St. Joe’s for injuries suffered to his face, and for allegedly inadvertently stabbing himself in the forearm during the scuffle, before he was transported and booked into the Lake County Jail. Charges were filed and Fisher appeared in Judge Chuck Wall’s justice court Friday, where his bond was set at $100,000.

Chief Chase said the preliminary investigation has uncovered that the victim and assailant allegedly have a history of dislike toward one another. He said an event on New Year’s Eve at the victim’s house preceded the latest altercation.

Fisher allegedly came to a party at McKay’s house a month ago wielding a four-foot piece of metal pipe. McKay said that New Year’s Eve was the first time he’d ever seen Fisher, but that Fisher was out of control at McKay’s residence. After repeatedly warning Fisher to calm down, McKay kicked him out of his house. Fisher allegedly then returned with the pipe. McKay chased Fisher off his property and thought nothing of it until their run-in last Thursday.

When Fisher showed up at the Southshore last week, McKay, a bouncer at the bar who spending his night off shooting pool, escorted Fisher out to the parking lot, saying he was not welcome in the establishment.

That led to the altercation.

The victim, McKay, was discharged from the hospital Friday afternoon.