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More from Friday’s Journal: I know jujitsu,’ suspect says before tackling officer near Taos



A man claiming to know jujitsu wrestled a State Police officer to the ground and threatened to take his gun after a chase south from Taos on Monday night.

Nakai B. Shaerussel, 27, of Ojo Caliente was finally found hiding under a tree and taken into custody after the chase ended off a winding, gravel mountain highway west of Pilar, according to a statement of probable cause.

According to the court documents filed in Taos Magistrate Court: Shaerussel was charged with 10 counts, including assault with intent to commit a violent felony on a police officer and aggravated battery on a police officer. He was jailed without bail and has four arrest warrants from Taos, Santa Fe and Socorro counties.

The statement of probable cause, written by officer Todd Sibley, says the officer saw a sedan traveling south on N.M. 68 south of Taos at 93 mph just before 7 p.m. and gave chase. The car passed multiple vehicles, including in a sharp curve known as the “horseshoe.”

After crossing the Taos Junction Bridge, westbound on N.M. 567 and still traveling fast, the sedan ran a pickup truck off the road. Sibley caught up with the car and ordered the suspect, later identified as Shaerussel, who was on the side of the road holding a small dog, to show his hands.

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Shaerussel resisted being handcuffed and told Sibley, “If you want to grapple, I know jujitsu.” The suspect attacked the officer and had “me on my back” and laughed, saying there “is nothing like a high-speed pursuit,” the officer’s statement says.

Shaerussel walked back to his car despite Sibley drawing his gun and ordering him not to move. Sibley and other officers later found the suspect in a field and arrested him.