Police were called to Theodore's on Worthington Street in downtown Springfield for a report that a bartender had been punched by a drunken patron.
Chad BlackakSPRINGFIELD - Police had to use pepper spray on a 39-year-old Agawam man who created a disturbance and assaulted a female bartender late Tuesday at Theodore's on Worthington Street, police said.
Chad Blackak of 76 Monroe St., Agawam, was charged with assault and battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, said police Sgt. John Delaney, spokesman for Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet.
Police were called to Theodore's, 201 Worthington St. at about 11:30 p.m. for a report that a bartender had been punched by a drunken patron, Delaney said.
The bartender, whose name was not disclosed, told police she was trying to escort Blackak out of the bar when he turned and punched her in the face. She suffered a fat lip but declined medical attention, Delaney said.
She told police Blackak had not been at the bar that night but only wandered in moments earlier. She said Blackak walked up to her and asked her for a gun because there were people outside who were bothering him, Delaney said.
When officers Matthew Vickery and Daniel Billingsley tried to talk with Blackak, he was not cooperative and began to assault them, Delaney said. The officers used pepper spray to subdue him and take him into custody.
Blackak denied the charges at his district court arraignment Wednesday. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to appear in court for a pre-trial conference on May 4.