Man arrested after stabbing officer in Utah County, puncturing his body armor, police say

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

Police were sent to a report of a domestic violence incident in Genola about 5:30 p.m. Thursday. 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."

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

"Timothy jumped out of the apartment door with a blue steak knife," 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, the arrest report states. The trauma plate was penetrated "approximately one quarter of an inch."

The officer was attacked outside the apartment door and was "stuck between the metal railing and the suspect on the top landing area with no room to move during the stabbing. before the officer could create distance between him and Timothy," police say.

Police retreated to prevent any further assault. Olesen went back into the apartment but allegedly threw the knife at police, striking the same officer.

At some point, Olesen "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 the Utah County Jail for investigation of attempted aggravated murder, assault on a peace officer with a dangerous weapon, intoxication and a number of potential drug-related offenses.

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