A man is accused of threatening to stab another man during a weekend altercation at a Butler home where they both live. But the alleged would-be victim fought back with a homemade baseball bat, Butler police said.

Thomas J. Nagy, 27, who denied having a knife, was arrested on felony assault and other charges. He is in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail.

Police said they were called around 11:20 a.m. Saturday to the home on Walker Avenue for an assault in progress. Officers found the 48-year-old victim, who allegedly told them he was in his room when Nagy tried to stab him with a knife.

He armed himself with the bat, he recounted, and struck the defendant twice in self-defense, according to charging documents.

Nagy allegedly dropped the knife and left the victim's room. Police noted that they recovered a folding knife.

Another man who lives at the home was an apparent eyewitness to the altercation. But he too was a suspected victim of Nagy's.

That man allegedly told police that the defendant shoved him into a television set as he ran toward the 48-year-old man's room. However, he did not see Nagy holding a knife. “He did state to officers Nagy was very aggressive,” documents said, “and he saw the (victim) defend himself with the homemade baseball bat.”

Police said Nagy admitted to confronting the 48-year-old man, but he claimed he did not have a knife. He said he was struck multiple times with the bat.

No serious injuries were reported. Nagy was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment.

Thomas Nagy