Poplar Bluff, Mo., man accused of stabbing two others outside bar

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man was charged Tuesday with assaulting two other men during an alleged altercation outside a Wayne County bar.

Matthew Gordon Kane, aka Matthew Russell, 24, of the 600 block of County Road 337 was charged with two felonies of first-degree assault and two unclassified felonies of armed criminal action by Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Ramshur.

Kane, who was being held in the Wayne County Jail Wednesday on a $50,000 cash-only bond on each charge, is accused of causing serious physical injury to Guy Rodgers and Ben S. Deters by stabbing them.

The charges stem from an incident reported at about 4:15 a.m. Monday at the Jana at the Lake bar and was investigated by the Wayne County Sheriff's Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control.

According to Chief Deputy Brant Fitzwater's probable cause affidavit, authorities were notified by the bar's owner about a man who had been stabbed at the bar during at altercation at closing time.

As Fitzwater was responding to the emergency room at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, he said, he learned Rodgers had "suffered such a severe injury and that he was already being taken to the operating room."

Rodgers' condition was unknown at press time.

When Fitzwater arrived at the ER, he said, a nurse told him there were three stabbing victims, but would not provide any further information because of privacy restrictions.

Fitzwater said he contacted Deter, who was being treated for his injuries, and spoke briefly with him.

Deter, Fitzwater said, told him he had been stabbed in the back twice during the alleged altercation.

After Deter was treated and released, he reportedly told Fitzwater he had seen Rodgers and Kane get into an altercation inside the tavern.

"Deter stated once the confrontation became physical, he attempted to break up the altercation … at which time Brandon Harden started running toward the altercation as well," Fitzwater explained. "Deter advised he kept Harden at a distance because he was afraid he (Harden) was going to jump on Rodgers."

Deter told Fitzwater that once the alleged fight was over Rodgers reported he had been stabbed, and "also advised Deter that he appeared to have been stabbed as well."

After the alleged altercation, Harden and Kane fled the scene in Kane's vehicle, Fitzwater said.

While in the ER, Deter reported he had "run into" both Harden and Kane.

"Deter advised Russell did not speak to him, but Harden kept stating that he did not stab anybody," Fitzwater said.

As Wayne County authorities continued their investigation Monday morning, officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department were sent to a residence in the 400 block of West Neat Street at about 9:30.

Officers, according to Patrolman Josh Stewart's report, were told the call was a domestic, which was a "continuation of a stabbing, which had happened during the early morning hours in Wayne County."

When Stewart arrived, he said, he found Harden and Kane standing near the residence. Also on the scene were Johnny Wesley Holloway, 32, of Williamsville, Mo., and Jason Dale Phillips, 40, of the 600 block of Davis Street.

"The two groups of subjects appeared to be involved in a verbal dispute," Stewart said.

When Stewart approached Harden and Kane, he said, he saw what he described as a "large amount of blood spatter on the lower portion of his body," as well as a bandage on his right hand.

Harden, Stewart said, reported he and Kane were at his Neat Street residence when they saw two vehicles arrive.

"They exited the residence and were confronted by the subjects (Holloway and Phillips) who had exited the vehicles," Stewart said. "The subjects began yelling at him, stating he had stabbed their brother. He advised this wasn't true."

According to Harden's statement, Kane was involved in a "altercation where two male subjects had jumped him after a bar closing.

"He advised Mr. Kane defended himself, which is how Mr. Kane acquired the injury to his hand."

Kane reportedly received six stitches to close a cut on a pinkie finger.

When Stewart contacted Phillips and Holloway, he said, Phillips reported his brother had been stabbed and Harden and Kane were responsible for the assault.

"He had come to the residence after receiving information in reference to the whereabouts of the two subjects," Stewart said. "He had seen (Kane and Harden) leaving the hospital (and) knew law enforcement was seeking them for investigative purposes …"

At the request of Wayne County officials, Stewart said, Harden and Kane were arrested and taken to the police station, where they were turned over to patrol Cpl. Jeff Johnson and Cpl. Jeremy Weadon.

Harden subsequently was released, while Kane was turned over to Wayne County officials.

Holloway and Phillips were arrested on suspicion of peace disturbance. They are accused of disturbing the peace of Tammy Harden, who provided officers with a written statement.

Tammy Harden reported her son and Kane had came to her home, and while speaking with them she noticed the bandage on Kane's hand, according to Lt. Bob Moore's report.

"Matt told her that he got into a fight at a bar with two guys that jumped him and cut him," Moore said.

A short time after going to bed, Tammy Harden reported hearing her son yelling "'the guys were outside,'" Moore said. "Brandon opened the door and the guys outside yelled Brandon cut his brother.

"Everyone started yelling; she got scared and told the guys that if they did not leave, she was calling the police.

"One of the guys said call the police, your son stabbed my brother."

Holloway and Phillips were booked and released on criminal summonses.

Pertinent address:

Greenville, MO

Poplar Bluff, MO