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Stamford Man Pulls Fire Alarm, Stabs Two People, Police Say

STAMFORD, Conn. -- A 51-year-old man pulled a fire alarm at his Washington Boulevard building early Tuesday and attacked two people as they were leaving their apartments, Stamford police said.

Police say Edward Saarel went on a rampage as he stabbed two people after he pulled a fire alarm at his 1633 Washington Blvd. residence early Tuesday.

Police say Edward Saarel went on a rampage as he stabbed two people after he pulled a fire alarm at his 1633 Washington Blvd. residence early Tuesday.

Photo Credit: Stamford Police

Edward Saarel, of 1633 Washington Blvd., Apt. 1E, was subdued by one of his victims, a 48-year-old ex-competitive wrestler, police said, after Saarel was accused of stabbing the man in the rib area.

Saarel is charged with two counts of first-degree assault, disorderly conduct, third-degree assault on an elderly person and fourth-degree criminal mischief. A was held on $100,000 bond and taken to Stamford Hospital for a psychological evaluation, police said. He will be arraigned in state Superior Court in Stamford when he is released from the hospital, police said.

The incident began sometime after 3 a.m., police said, when Saarel got into an argument with his elderly mother in their first-floor apartment.

He left the apartment and pulled a fire alarm in the building, police said. After pulling it, he went up to the second floor, where he attacked a 27-year-old woman with a corkscrew wine opener with a 2-inch foldout blade, police said.

As he stabbed her in the chest he yelled, "You did it. You did it," police said. 

The woman, who suffered several stab wounds, fought him off with the assistance of a neighbor, police said. 

He then went down to the lobby, where he attacked a 48-year-old man and stabbed him in the left rib area with a steak knife while yelling, "I know you (expletive deleted) did it. I know you (expletive deleted) did it," police said.

The 48-year-old man, who was visiting a fourth-floor apartment, was able to take Saarel down and hold him until officers arrived, police said.

Both stabbing victims were taken to Stamford Hospital for treatment.

Officers located the bottle opener as well as the steak knife, which were both seized, police said.

Officers searched Saarel's apartment, and police said it was in "a deplorable state." Social Services and the Health Department were called in. His mother was taken to Stamford Hospital to be examined and was later released, police said.

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