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PORTER COUNTY, Ind. — A Chesterton man who attacked another man with a machete on Christmas night told police he had issues with the victim in the past.

Montrell Thornton, 34, told police that he was at his girlfriend’s house when the victim showed up and a fight broke out. The girlfriend later told investigators the man is her ex-husband, reports The Times of Northwest Indiana.

Thornton told police he grabbed a machete that was inside the home and hit the victim three times in the back and torso area. He said that after he realized what he did, he backed away and threw the machete to the side.

Shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday, Chesterton police found the victim slumped over the steering wheel of a car parked on Locust Street. The man was bleeding heavily from large cuts to his shoulder blade and at the base of his neck, according to The NWI Times.

The victim had to be revived by police before being taken to the hospital. He had surgery at an Illinois hospital and was reported to be in stable condition, police tell The NWI Times.

Thornton is charged with aggravated battery and battery with a deadly weapon. Police found him a short distance from the site of the attack and placed him in custody.

Police said they found a trail of blood on the sidewalk leading to the injured man’s car. They also found a knife and a large machete nearby, reports The NWI Times.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Chesterton Police Department or text the details to TIP46304.