LEWISTON – A verbal altercation quickly escalated into a knife fight Monday night on Bates Street, according to police.

“The fight started as an argument between a few women and expanded when two or three visibly intoxicated men approached them,” Sgt. Adam Higgins said Monday night.

The melee turned violent when a man wielded a bottle as a weapon and another man pulled out a knife in response, according to Higgins.

Police said six people were involved, but none had been charged as of late Monday night. Detectives were questioning suspects before filing any charges.

One man was taken to Central Maine Medical Center with knife wounds to the face and neck. His injuries were not life-threatening, Higgins said.

Witnesses, who declined to identify themselves, said the fight was gruesome.

Higgins said several knives were recovered, but he wasn’t sure if they were all used in the fight.

Police were investigating the altercation Monday night and were not yet releasing the names of the suspects.