Police: Man arrested after trying to stab officer in Utah County, puncturing his body armor

GENOLA, Utah County — A man has been arrested after police say he stabbed at a police officer in Utah County on Thursday. A body-worn trauma plate prevented the officer from suffering injury.

Police were sent to call about domestic violence incident in Genola on Thursday about 5:30 p.m. The caller said a man, Timothy Olesen, was having a fight with his parents. The caller was identified as a sibling of Olesen.

Olesen's father told police that during the argument, nothing physical happened, and there was no damage to any property, according to a police booking affidavit.

Olesen's father also told police that Olesen had "often threatened suicide and was likely trying to kill himself," according to court documents.

Upon learning that Olesen might be bleeding, police searched the property for him.

"Timothy jumped out of the apartment door with a blue steak knife," police wrote in the affidavit. Then Olesen stabbed a police officer "in the chest approximately three times leaving multiple noticeable puncture holes" through the officer's uniform, according to the affidavit.

The knife pierced through the uniform's outer layer, a ballistic vest and into a 1-inch-thick trauma plate, according to court documents. The trauma plate was penetrated "approximately one quarter of an inch," according to the affidavit.

Officers retreated to prevent any further assault, according to court documents. Olesen went back into the apartment.

"Timothy came outside with a knife, screaming and yelling extremely loud and aggressively at officers," according to the affidavit.

Olesen then went back into the apartment and barricaded himself inside.

Police obtained a no-knock warrant and, with the assistance of a Utah County SWAT team, negotiated with Olesen to leave the apartment following a two-hour standoff.

Olesen was arrested and taken to a hospital for emergency medical treatment, having lost a lot of blood due to several lacerations, police said.

After he received medical treatment, Olesen was booked into jail for investigation of attempted aggravated murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and a number of drug-related offenses.

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