Who is Akram Joudeh, the man accused in meat cleaver attack?

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- The man accused in a meat cleaver attack Thursday has 15 prior arrests, including larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal mischief and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Police said the confrontation began when two uniformed officers encountered Akram Joudeh, 32, trying to remove an immobilizing boot from a parked vehicle. Police said they believe Joudeh was living in his vehicle.

A look at the tools Joudeh was using to remove a boot on his car right before police confronted him:

As the officers approached him, Joudeh pulled out an 11-inch meat cleaver and ran, police said. A group of officers chased him, and at one point shot him with a Taser, with no apparent effect.

In Sept 2013, Joudeh used a wooden fence post to smash up a 2009 Chevy while it was parked at 25th Avenue and 96th street in Queens. He damaged the front windshield, the back windshield, knocked both mirrors off, and caused other dents to the doors and hood.

At the time, he said to police, "I thought it was a detective's car." He pleaded guilty to the top count, fourth-degree criminal mischief, and was sentenced to 60 days in jail.

In July, he was arrested for weapons possession after police stopped him while pacing back and forth in front of a Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, synagogue. His vehicle was parked outside the synagogue, and inside, officers found a pair of knives. The charges were later dropped.

In 2010, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor petit larceny and was sentenced to 90 days.

In 2009, he was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. The felony charges were dismissed, he pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a vehicle and paid a fine.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.