BELCHERTOWN — The man suspected of stabbing a police officer in the neck Friday at a South Hadley Dunkin’ Donuts appeared in court for the first time Monday.
Jeffrey Torres, 29, who was shot during the alleged assault, pleaded not guilty to charges of armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, said his attorney Alfred Chamberland of Easthampton.
But Torres, of Springfield, is expected to be arraigned yet again after he undergoes a mental health evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital, Chamberland said.
If there’s any question as to a person’s competency while they are being informed of charges against them, the attorney explained, “then it makes sense for the court to arraign him again.”
“He appeared to be in significant pain during his appearance in court and while he was awaiting court in lockup,” he added.
In the meantime, Torres, who was using a wheelchair in court Monday, is held without bail and committed to Bridgewater for 20 days until he is due back in court April 8, his attorney said.
Torres was shot at least twice Friday evening, according to the district attorney’s office.
“We’re in the early stages of investigating this matter, exploring all possible defenses,” Chamberland said.
Monday evening, his family remained rattled and frustrated after a weekend of worrying about whether the Jeffrey Torres who allegedly stabbed an officer was the same one they knew. His birthday, provided by the DA’s office Monday, confirmed it was their son.
“OK. OK,” Torres’ mother, Maria Gaetan, of Holyoke, said when she learned this news Monday, seeming resigned. “Is he OK?”
Gaetan, 74, said she hasn’t been sleeping well. Three of her brothers visited Baystate Medical Center in Springfield on Saturday, where Torres was transported Friday and had surgery, but they were told he was not listed in the patient records. Gaetan went to the hospital Sunday, but again left with no information about Torres.
“Nobody told me nothing,” Gaetan said.
On Monday, the family called the DA’s office but Torres’ uncle Luis Pagan, 57, said he was unable to reach someone who had information about his nephew. Pagan said Gaetan wants desperately to see her son.
“That’s far away from here,” he said when told Torres was being sent to Bridgewater.
Family members described Torres as a troubled and tough man, someone who suffers from mental health issues and is frequently intoxicated.
“He’s a real good guy, but sometimes he loses his mind,” Pagan said.
Gaetan agreed: “When he loses control he does a lot of things. He’s not himself. He changes. One person to another person.”
They said Torres’ ex-girlfriend, the mother of two of his children, works at the Dunkin’ Donuts in the South Hadley Shopping Center on Newton Street, where the incident occurred Friday. Gaetan described it as a tumultuous relationship, and said her son has a history of physical abuse.
Gaetan said Torres has previously spent time in a mental health facility, though she could not recall the precise dates or details.
“I worry, I worry, I worry,” she said.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com. Stephanie McFeeters can be reached at smcfeeters@gazettenet.com.