3 officers injured in meat cleaver attack

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - A man wielding a meat cleaver slashed and seriously wounded an off-duty police detective who had confronted him after a chase in Midtown Manhattan Thursday evening, the NYPD said.

Police officers responded to a call of "criminal mischief" near Penn Station and said they found Akram Joudeh, 32, tampering with a wheel boot on his car, police said. The officers tried to question and handcuff him when he ran away.

Officers chased Joudeh, who was carrying an 11-inch cleaver, northbound, police said. Several other officers joined the pursuit. A sergeant shot Joudeh with a Taser, but it didn't stop him.

Joudeh ran down 32nd Street, where an off-duty police detective, who was heading to Penn Station, confronted him, police said. Joudeh slashed the detective, who suffered a serious wound to his face.

Officers then fire 18 shots at Joudeh, who was critically wounded, police said.

Two other officers suffered injuries.

The detective and Joudeh were taken to Bellevue for treatment. Police said the detective was in serious condition and Joudeh was in critical but stable condition.

Joudeh last known address in in Queens, but he may have been living in his car, police said. He has several prior arrests.

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, on his last full day on the job, said police have very good video of the incident. He commended all the officers involved in the incident.