Believing that a couple visiting the area for a trip to Glacier National Park had stolen his chainsaw, a 35-year-old allegedly attacked them with a hammer earlier this month.  

Prosecutors brought Andrew Charles Ish up on a felony count of assault with a weapon, or alternatively attempted assault with a weapon, following the Oct. 2 dustup near Coram. Freed after posting a cash bond, Ish is expected to appear before Judge Amy Eddy in Flathead County District Court on Nov. 12 for his arraignment. 

Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies met the victims at a Coram restaurant about 7:45 p.m., according to court documents. The two recounted Ish approaching them earlier in the day and striking up a friendly conversation.  

But he soon began accusing them of making off with his chainsaw, court documents said. When the couple tried to leave, Ish followed them and allegedly pushed the woman.  

That prompted her husband to intervene. In return, Ish pulled a ball-peen hammer from his pocket, court documents said.  

"I'm going to [expletive] kill you with this hammer," he allegedly told the man.  

Although Ish took a swing with the tool, he missed the man, according to court documents. Scared, the couple got into their vehicle and drove off while calling the authorities.  

When deputies approached Ish, he allegedly accused the husband of threatening to kill him, saying that's what led him to bring out the hammer. He also told authorities that two people accompanying him heard the threats, though both of those individuals later said they were elsewhere when the attack occurred, court documents said.  

Ish opted against speaking further with deputies and denied them permission to go through his vehicle. After securing a search warrant, investigators recovered an 8-ounce black and yellow ball-peen hammer underneath the rear passenger seat of Ish's vehicle, court documents said.  

Assault with a weapon and attempted assault with a weapon are both 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.