Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood says a police officer was stabbed in the chest during an investigation of a Vermont Street fire overnight.
Police say the officer, Greg Vatrano is expected to survive.
The Commissioner says the officer's protective chest plate is the thing that likely saved the officer's life.
Police have arrested a 39 year old man Ruben Barrero is being charged with arson and two counts of attempted murder.
He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without the right to bail.
Barrero is undergoing a mental health exam.
He will plead not guilty to the charges at his arraignment. Police say he was being treated for unspecified injuries.
Fire officials meantime, say that the Vermont Street building that was torched, sustained about 10 thousand dollars worth of damage- mostly to the porch area.
The inside of the structure was not effected.
(Picture by Springfield Police)