UPDATE: Man Assaults His Mother, Stabs 2 in Stamford: Police

Stamford police say a man is accused of allegedly assaulting his elderly mother, and then proceeded to stab two people who lived in his apartment complex at 1633 Washington Boulevard.

But one of the victims turned the tables on the suspect and was able to wrestle him to the ground, remove the knife from the suspect’s hand, and detain him until police arrived and took him into custody, police said.

Police say at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday the Stamford Police Patrol Division was alerted to a male attacking people in the hallway of the apartment complex.

Upon arrival patrol units found a 48-year-old male holding another male on the ground in the lobby, police said.

That male being detained ultimately was the suspect wanted for the assaults in the building, police said. Patrol units quickly placed him in handcuffs and identified him as Edward Saarel, of 50.

The investigation revealed that Saarel was staying with his elderly mother at an apartment. They became involved in an argument in which he allegedly assaulted her and threw her to the ground, police said.

As he departed the apartment he pulled the building’s fire alarm in an attempt to lure people from their apartments.

As residents were evacuating their apartments he came across a 27-year-old female and yelled “I know you did it,” and started attacking her with a corkscrew and a steak knife, police said. She sustained multiple stab wounds and was transported to Stamford Hospital for treatment.

As Saarel entered the lobby he came across the 48-year-old male resident and Saarell started to scream at him.

He then stabbed the victim in the abdomen, police said.

“The victim was then able to wrestle him to the ground, knock the knife out of his hand, and hold him until responding units arrived,” police said.

One knife and a corkscrew were recovered at the scene. The victim was also transported to Stamford HX for treatment.

At Saarel’s residence that he shares with his mother the officers found the apartment in a deplorable state, police said. Social Services, as well as the Health department, were notified to rectify the situation. The mother was transported to Stamford Hospital for treatment and was released this morning.

Saarel was charged with two counts of first-degree assault, disorderly conduct, fourth-degree criminal mischief, and third-degree assault on the elderly.

A $100,000 bond was levied on Saarel. Saarel was processed and then was transported to Stamford Hospital for a psychological evaluation. He will be arraigned at Stamford Superior Court when he is released.