For Immediate Release: 9/19/2023 9:19 pm
On September 19th 2023 at about 8:20 AM, Worcester Police officers were dispatched to Dunkin Donuts on Park Ave for a report of an assault. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a seventy-two-year-old male victim, who was sitting with friends when he was approached by someone asking for money. The male asking for money was later identified by officers as thirty-year-old Manuel Santiago.
He and his friends declined to give money, and Mr. Santiago became upset. Mr. Santiago left the store for about six minutes before re-entering the store while wearing a black ski mask. Mr. Santiago struck the seventy-two-year-old male in the face several times and struck another seventy-two-year-old male in the face who tried to intervene. One of the males was transported to the hospital by ambulance with a broken nose. After confirming the identity of Mr. Santiago using surveillance footage, officers issued a BOLO for him.
While they were checking the area, officers were advised that another call came in for a male harassing customers in the area of Dollar Tree at 50 Mill Street. Officers arrived and found Mr. Santiago, who was placed under arrest for two counts of Assault and Battery on a Person over 60. When Mr. Santiago was booked, he gave a false name to booking officers. He was additionally charged with Furnishing a False Name to Police After Arrest.
