SOUTH HADLEY — Authorities on Saturday identified the man who allegedly stabbed a police officer at a South Hadley Dunkin’ Donuts Friday night as Jeffrey Torres, 29, of Holyoke.
Around 7 p.m. Friday, a South Hadley police officer who has not been identified responded to a disturbance at the store in the South Hadley Shopping Center on Newton Street (Route 116). Torres is alleged to have stabbed the officer in the neck with a knife, according to the Northwestern district attorney’s office.
The officer shot Torres three times, hitting him at least twice, according to the district attorney’s office.
Torres and the officer were both transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. The officer was treated and released, the DA’s office said in a statement Saturday. Torres had surgery and remains in the hospital but is expected to survive, the statement said.
No further information was made available Sunday.
Torres is being charged with armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He is expected to be arraigned Monday morning. Depending on his medical condition, the arraignment will take place either at Baystate Medical Center or the Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown.
Saturday morning, cleaning crews scrubbed the Dunkin’ Donuts as police caution tape blocked the drive-through lane. Customers who arrived looking for a dose of caffeine were turned away by a hand-written “closed” sign in the door.
It re-opened around 11:30 a.m., an employee said Saturday afternoon, declining to say anything about Friday’s incident. Other employees also declined to comment.
Wayne Patnode, 65, of South Hadley brought his 4-year-old grandson to the store earlier in the day but had forgotten his wallet, and was returning to pay at around 2 p.m.
“I always feel safe and still feel safe,” he said. “I have 100 percent confidence in the South Hadley police force and everything they do.”
The incident remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police attached to the district attorney’s office.
Stephanie McFeeters can be reached at smcfeeters@gazette-net.com