A Kalispell man accused of attacking another person in his home with a knife on Independence Day has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge in Flathead County District Court.  

Prosecutors brought Cole Zachary Woods, 36, up on a single count of assault with a weapon following the Fourth of July fracas on Woodland Avenue. He appeared before Judge Paul Sullivan for his arraignment on July 23.  

The victim told Kalispell Police officers that he had walked home from a bar in the early morning hours, opening the front door but pausing outside to smoke a cigarette. Woods woke up and became upset at the victim, who went inside and plopped down on a couch, court documents said. 

As Woods' anger grew, he allegedly threatened to stab the victim and produced a blade. When the victim got up from the couch, Woods lunged at him, court documents said.  

The two subsequently began fighting and the victim punched Woods in the face, court documents alleged. After Woods fell onto a coffee table, the victim grabbed the blade and tossed it into the yard. The victim told authorities that a disarmed Woods threatened to stab him with a shard of glass from the broken coffee table.  

Investigators, who arrived at the home about 2:44 a.m., reviewed videos taken of the confrontation. In one video, a man identified as Woods was heard threatening to stab someone, court documents said. In another, Woods is allegedly shown clutching a box cutter with the blade exposed.  

All the videos captured both Woods and the victim yelling at each other, court documents said.  

Officers recovered the box cutter from the yard, storing it as evidence.  

Felony assault with a weapon is punishable by up to 20 years behind bars and a $50,000 fine. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 406-758-4430 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.