Man arrested after stabbing at Family Dollar

HOLYOKE — A Holyoke man is in custody after he allegedly stabbed another person at a High Street business Sunday afternoon, police said.

Ramon Nieves, 65, was arrested at 1 p.m. at Family Dollar, 555 High St., on charges of assault and battery, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and assault with intent to murder as the result of allegedly stabbing a person with whom he was having a verbal altercation, according to a statement issued by Capt. Matthew F. Moriarty.

The arrest came following a response to the location in which witnesses pointed out the possible suspect walking away to Sgt. Victor Heredia and patrol officer Baron Maruca. Nieves, who had a wound to his hand, was then arrested, police said.

As Nieves was being apprehended, Holyoke patrol officers Erik Martin and Michael Chatel tended to the victim, who was bleeding, with life-saving measures until Holyoke Fire and EMS arrived.

The victim was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition.

Both the Holyoke Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit also responded.

— SCOTT MERZBACH

Man arrested for alleged animal cruelty

HOLYOKE — Police arrested a Holyoke man on a charge of animal cruelty after he was observed repeatedly hitting a dog, throwing it to the ground and dragging it by its collar early Sunday evening.

Douglas Robles, 31, was arrested in the area of High and Jackson streets at 6:05 p.m. following a police response to a report that he and another man were abusing a brown dog, Capt. Matthew F. Moriarty wrote in a statement.

Officers spoke to Robles and observed the dog’s poor condition, including its difficulty getting back on its feet. A witness said the dog had been hit several times and thrown onto the sidewalk, prompting the call to emergency dispatch.

With Robles arrested, the dog was placed in the care of Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Shelter in Springfield. Before its staff arrived, officers bought three cans of dog food for the dog, two of which the animal consumed on site, police said.

— SCOTT MERZBACH

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