Prosecutors have charged a man accused of wielding a metal pipe in a fight in Coram earlier this month with assault with a weapon.

Russell Loren Tolbert Jr., 38, of Coram, is expected to appear before Judge Paul Sullivan in Flathead County District Court on May 29 for his arraignment on the felony count. Tolbert remains in the county jail with bail set at $50,000.

Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies began searching for Tolbert after responding to a reported assault on Bear Street about 3:51 p.m., May 12, according to court documents. Responding deputies found the victim struggling to breathe and suffering from injuries to his leg and chest. Medical responders loaded him into an ambulance before he could give them a statement, court documents said.

But another individual at the scene showed authorities a metal pipe and said that the victim had earlier identified Tolbert as his attacker, according to court documents.

After instructing the individual to stop touching the pipe, investigators examined it and found what looked like dried blood. They also found apparent dried blood in the kitchen and living area, according to court documents.  

Authorities later tracked down Tolbert, who was hiding near railroad tracks, with a K9 unit, court documents said.

He allegedly told them that he lived at the Bear Street home and found the victim irritating. That day marked the "last straw," he allegedly said, and the two fought. He recalled pushing the victim, who then struck him with a handsaw, according to court documents. After being hit with the tool, Tolbert allegedly said he punched the victim in the face repeatedly.

But investigators reported finding no marks on Tolbert's face or hands and saw no injuries to the victim's face, according to court documents. A search of the Bear Street residence failed to turn up a handsaw, court documents said.

If convicted, Tolbert faces up to 20 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].