Man, 67, seriously hurt in hammer assault

Police in Polson are investigating after a 67-year-old man was struck in the head with a hammer, suffering what Police Chief Wade Nash described as life-threatening injuries.

Assistant Police Chief Clint Cottle said the victim was flown to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery and was listed in critical condition on Thursday.  

Cottle says 35-year-old Desmond Mackay was arrested and booked into the Lake County jail on two counts of assault with a weapon.

Cottle says the son-in-law of the victim was at the scene and was able to wrestle the hammer away from the assailant and hold him until police arrived shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The son-in-law, a 36-year-old Polson resident, suffered minor injuries.

Cottle would not elaborate on a motive.

The incident occurred in the alley behind 509 Fourth Ave. W. in Polson.

Polson police and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office are investigating.