PALMER -- An 18-year-old Palmer man has been charged with third-degree assault after stabbing another man in the arm during a confrontation at a Wasilla residence.

William J. Timm was lodged in Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on Sept. 17 with $7,500 bail after knifing Michael J. Naron, 27, of Wasilla, Alaska State Troopers said.

Naron was treated at Valley Hospital and released. The altercation began about 1:30 a.m. when Timm and two others arrived at 3801 Bogard Road to pick up Noah Escobar, according to charging documents. A report by Trooper Dug Cook said Naron challenged Timm to fight, then hit him in the face.

"Timm then stabbed Naron in the arm one time using a gravity knife and fled the scene," Cook said in his affidavit.

A gravity knife is a legal type of switchblade.

Amanda Clayton, who witnessed the attack, told Cook she wasn't sure why the stabbing occurred. Naron's wound was closed with staples at the hospital. Troopers were alerted to the incident by emergency room personnel, who treated Naron at 1:55 a.m.

Cook's report said Timm was apprehended at 4:40 a.m. with a gold-handled gravity knife in his possession. He admitted using the knife to stab Naron, according to the report.

Third-degree assault is a class C felony with maximum punishment of five years in prison and $50,000 fine. Timm also was charged with misconduct involving weapons in the fifth degree, a class B misdemeanor, according to charging documents.

Naron was not charged with a crime for allegedly provoking the stabbing, court records indicated Tuesday.