San Antonio police officer shoots armed man at Hyatt Place Hotel

San Antonio police called to hotel room for smell of marijuana

A San Antonio police officer had a violent clash with an armed man at the Hyatt Place Hotel on the North Side late Monday night.

The officer was forced to shoot the man -- identified Tuesday afternoon as Bryan Torres, 34, of Port Lavaca, Texas -- when he reached for a gun, according to SAPD Chief William McManus.

The incident happened around 11:30 p.m. after the officer answered a call from a guest of the hotel, located in the 7600 block of Jones Maltsberger Road, about the odor of marijuana coming from another room.

Chief McManus said the officer went to that room, knocked on the door and immediately found himself in a dangerous situation when Torres answered it.

"First thing he did when he saw the officer outside the door was reach for a gun in his waistband," McManus said. "The officer pushed him back, drew his weapon and fired once, striking him in the midsection."

Torres was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Although he was alive at the time, details of his condition aren't known.

He's been charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer; possession of marijuana, 4 oz.-5 lbs; and possession of heroin, a controlled substance, 4 grams-200 grams.

McManus said two other men and a female child were in the suspect's hotel room at the time. One of those people was identified as Michael Wayne Quiroz, 21. He was arrested on two outstanding warrants.

The officer, a 4-year-veteran of the force, suffered a minor hand injury and also was taken to a hospital.

As per SAPD protocol, the officer involved will be placed on temporary administrative duty while the San Antonio police shooting team investigates the case.

For a list of recent stories Katrina Webber has done, click here.

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About the Author:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.