Two stabbed -- and charged -- in Arlington brawl

By John M. Guilfoil, Globe Correspondent

Two men stabbed each other, with one of them suffering serious injuries, and both were arrested after a drug-fueled fight in Arlington early Friday morning.

David Nagle, 33, and Michael O’Donnell, 35, were at a party together Thursday night, police said. At around 2:30 a.m. Friday, Nagel went to O’Donnell’s girlfriend’s house on Homer Road and started punching him in the head, dragging him outside to the front lawn. Nagle then pulled a large knife and tried to stab O'Donnell.

O’Donnell’s girlfriend handed him a folding pocketknife that he used to stab Nagle several times in the midsection.

Nagle was rushed to the Lahey Clinic in Burlington in critical condition. He was listed in fair condition today, a hospital spokeswoman said. O’Donnell was cut on the hands and arms.

A short distance from the scene, police found a quantity of white powder that appeared to be cocaine. Police also said Nagle appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

Nagle was arrested at the hospital and charged with attempted murder and assault and battery.

Police said O’Donnell may not have been completely forthright with his story, and he was also arrested and charged with assault and battery.

“Based on the scene, we felt there was probable cause to arrest both people involved,” said Arlington Police Lieutenant Robert Bongiorno.

O’Donnell will be arraigned Monday in Cambridge District Court. Nagle will be arraigned when he is medically able to be in court, Bongiorno said.

Police said they did not know why the two men fought.

John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com