Box cutter used in bar fight, court docs say

The Kalispell man facing an attempted deliberate homicide charge after an April 5 fight at a local bar wielded a box cutter in the clash, court documents say.

Brockton Ferguson, 35, is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond following his arrest. His arraignment in Flathead County District Court is scheduled for April 21.

Court documents filed April 6 revealed new information about the fight, which left one man hospitalized with a laceration to the neck. He was in stable condition at Logan Health as of that date, officials said in a press release.

Officers with the Kalispell Police Department arrived at the bar about 9:36 p.m. to find the victim spitting up and choking on blood. According to court documents, the wound left by the box cutter was deep enough to leave his trachea visible.

As emergency responders took the victim away, officers spoke with witnesses. One recounted seeing the victim slap Ferguson. He allegedly walked away, but returned and punched the victim in the face before drawing the box cutter and “slitting his throat.”

A review of surveillance camera footage confirmed the witness’ account, court documents said. Officers watched as Ferguson allegedly drove an object into the victim’s throat. He held it there until an individual pulled Ferguson away.

As they arrested Ferguson, officers heard him mutter that he needed “to do laundry now after slitting someone’s throat.”

Attempted deliberate homicide is punishable by death, life imprisonment or between 10 and 100 years in state prison. Owing to the box cutter, deemed a dangerous weapon in court documents, Ferguson could earn an additional sentence of between two and 10 years behind bars.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.