BRANCH COUNTY — A Coldwater man is facing charges related to a Friday night stabbing that police say was over a woman.

Denny Elkins, 46, of Coldwater remained in stable condition in Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo as of Monday, Feb. 27.

Meanwhile, 36-year-old Roberto Martinez Loera is charged with assault with intent to do bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony, and felonious assault with a knife, a four-year offense.

Michigan State Police troopers called to stop the fight in progress found Elkins with stab wounds to his legs and abdomen when they arrived at the 500 block of Marshall Road just north of the city limits.

The dispute started earlier at Hungry Howie's Pizza on East Chicago, where an argument ended with Elkins kicking Loera’s truck.

“The parties engaged in a back-and-forth argument text messaging where physical threats were made,” according to the police report.

Elkins told troopers he went to Loera’s home, where he saw Loera riding his bike. He tackled Loera off his bike and the two fought on the ground in the road.

“He may have ‘nicked’ (Elkins) with a knife when they were wrestling,” according to the police report. Loera later said he "poked" Elkins with the knife more than two times.

Loera’s current girlfriend, a former longtime companion of Elkins, saw the men "grappling" in the road just before Elkins staggered away from the fight “like an injured deer."

Earl said the knife found at the scene was a gift to her and had been in her car.

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Loera was held under a $35,000 bond at a Saturday District Court arraignment. The public defender was appointed to represent Loera with a probable cause conference March 9 and preliminary exam March 14.

— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Coldwater man held in Friday night stabbing over woman