Two Gresham men are home after being treated for minor injuries sustained while battling each other gladiator-style in their apartment complex courtyard.

Police responded to a report at 3:24 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, of a stabbing involving two men armed with a machete and a spear, said Officer Malaka Kerbs, Gresham police spokeswoman.

Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deputies found the victim, identified as George Gaines, 58, at the corner of Southeast 162nd Avenue and East Burnside Street.

Gaines and his next-door neighbor, identified as Aaron Baker, 42, were both transported to local hospitals, where they were treated and released the same day for their injuries.

Officers later arrested Baker, who was booked on allegations of second-degree assault and first-degree burglary. He was released by court order on Thursday, Aug. 16.

According to a Gresham police report, Baker agreed to watch Gaines’ apartment while he was gone, but when Gaines returned home, he saw that a window was open and his medication was gone.

Gaines talked to Baker about it but didn’t accuse him of any wrongdoing, Kerbs said.

However, Baker then returned to the apartment armed with a machete and preceded to carve Gaines up like a turkey, according to witnesses.

“The fight was on,” Kerbs said. Gaines managed to get the machete away from Baker, who then left the area. But Gaines stepped into the courtyard that the apartment’s surround and began yelling about the attack and his apartment being broken into.

Residents pulled out cellular phones and filmed the man’s tirade. Then Baker returned, this time armed with a “middle earth looking spear,” according to witnesses. The spear consisted of bamboo with a knife duct taped to the end, Kerbs said.

What ensued was a gladiator-style fight, all filmed by their fellow neighbors.

Eventually, someone decided to use his or her phone to call the police and stopped filming long enough to call 911.

Gaines then left the area and threw the machete into the trash, Kerbs said, adding that he thought it might not be in his best interests for police to contact him while armed with such a weapon.

The district attorney’s office has decided not to prosecute the case, Kerbs said.