BUTLER TWP — A fight outside an East Brady Street home Thursday night ended with one man bloodied from a head wound and another man jailed for using a steel pipe as a weapon, police said.

Steven Ross Hovis, 26, of Butler Township is accused of repeatedly hitting Michael Thomas Jr. in the head with the pipe about 8:25 p.m.

Thomas suffered cuts and bruises in the attack outside Hovis' house, and was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital. He was treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said.

District Judge Sue Haggerty just after 1 a.m. arraigned Hovis on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, possessing instruments of crime and disorderly conduct. He is in Butler County Prison on $25,000 bail.

Thomas, 26, of Butler told police that he and his 17-year-old girlfriend had gone to the defendant's home to confront Hovis about his suspected posting of an explicit photograph of the girl on the Internet, according to court documents.

The girl, who police did not identify, said she drove Thomas there. She also admitted that Thomas was "upset and agitated" and had a knife with him, police said.

Minutes before the altercation, Thomas sent Hovis a text message, the defendant told police, warning Hovis that he was "on his way" and "be ready," a police affidavit said.

Hovis said he armed himself with a floor jack handle made from a steel pipe. He put the pipe in his pocket and under his shirt, he told police, and waited for Thomas.

Hovis went outside when he saw Thomas, and the two squared off at East Brady and Valley streets.

Hovis claimed Thomas pulled a knife, but Thomas' girlfriend denied that claim, saying he never displayed the knife, documents said.

Apparently after words were exchanged, Hovis said Thomas punched him in the head and the two began to wrestle on the ground.

"(Hovis) stated he then pulled the pipe from under his shirt," the affidavit said, "and struck Thomas about the head three to four times."

Several neighbors called 911 to report the street fight. Butler police, who were called to assist, got there first and immediately radioed for an ambulance.

Medics were treating Thomas for his head wound when Butler Township police arrived. Officers also found an 18-inch red steel pipe at the intersection near Hovis' house.

The pipe, police said, was covered with blood and next to a pool of blood.

Investigators recovered the pipe and a knife, which was also found at the scene and covered in blood, documents said.

Police this morning said the case remains under investigation.

A preliminary hearing for Hovis is set for 11 a.m. Thursday at the office of District Judge Kevin O'Donnell.