By Adam Kramer
Three police officers, including two from the 105th Precinct in Queens Village, narrowly escaped serious injury last Thursday night while arresting an emotionally disturbed man who had barricaded himself in his home after killing his wife, authorities said.
Police responded to a 911 emergency call by Jagat Soogrim, a 43-year-old Guyanese immigrant, at 88-51 Hollis Court Blvd. in Queens Village after he told them, “I’m a murderer,” the NYPD said.
Officers from the 105th Precinct arrived about 10:50 p.m. at Soogrim’s home, where the man was holed up. His wife, Juliet Soogrim, 34, was dead from multiple stab wounds, police said.
A police source said that as the officers tried to enter Soogrim’s home he started throwing objects at them through the window, sending shards of glass flying, which injured two officers.
When Lt. Lawrence Serras and other members of the Emergency Service Unit arrived and tried to convince Soogrim to leave the apartment, he lashed out at them with a meat cleaver, shattering a protective shield that they had set up, police said.
Police said he then retreated into his bedroom. When ESU officers forced their way into the room, police said Soogrim jumped at them and tried to attack them with knives. The officers shot him with a stun gun, but it did not penetrate his leather jacket, police said, and Soogrim threw the cleaver at them.
The cleaver, which Serras said he did not see coming, hit the front of his bulletproof helmet. Police said the cleaver cut the front of the helmet and its wooden handle hit Serras in the chin. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
Police said once they had subdued Soogrim and began putting him in a restraining bag, he confused it with a body bag and exclaimed, “I am not dead yet!”
Police said they found the body of Juliet Soogrim, who had been stabbed repeatedly, on her bed,
Soogrim was charged with murder, aggravated assault on a police officer, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon, police said. He was taken to Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn for a psychiatric exam.
A police source said Soogrim had written notes, letters and his thoughts to his family on the walls of the apartment in a red substance he guessed was either lipstick or paint.
At a news conference Friday, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said taking down and restraining an armed suspect without the use of deadly force showed “remarkable restraint.”
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
