Utah County man charged with attempting to kill officer
Jan 31, 2025, 7:00 AM
A Utah County man who allegedly stabbed a police officer in the chest- but the knife did not penetrate his bulletproof vest- has been charged with attempted aggravated murder. (Noman_Soul, Shutterstock)
(Noman_Soul, Shutterstock)
GENOLA, Utah County — A Genola, Utah County, man is accused of trying to kill a Santaquin police officer by stabbing him in the chest.
Fortunately, the knife did not penetrate the officer’s body armor or bulletproof vest.
Timothy Erik Olesen, 23, was charged Thursday in 4th District Court with attempted aggravated murder, a first-degree felony; two counts of assault on an officer, a second-degree felony; marijuana production and possession of marijuana, third-degree felonies; two counts of possession of a weapon by a restricted person, a class A misdemeanor; and interfering with police and possession of drug paraphernalia, class B misdemeanors.
On Jan. 23, police responded to a report of a domestic violence incident at a Genola home where Olesen and his father had gotten into an argument. While officers were on scene talking with Olesen’s father, Olesen “called 911 himself, claiming to have cut himself and telling the dispatcher that he was ‘not going to make it,'” according to charging documents.
Two Santaquin officers already at the home learned that Olesen was in an outbuilding on the property and began looking for him.
“As (one officer) reached the door to the living quarters, (Olesen) suddenly rushed him, holding a large kitchen knife, and stabbed (the officer) in the chest three times with it. (The officer) was wearing a ballistics vest with a metal trauma plate, which absorbed the blows,” the charges state.
A police booking affidavit further states “the officer described the force as being punched by an adult in the chest at least three times and stated he could hear a loud popping sound with each blow.”
The two officers retreated down the stairs, but Olesen “came outside again and threw knives at the two officers, one of which hit (the same officer) in the chest,” according to the charges.
Neither officer suffered serious injury.
Olesen went back into his apartment, and a two-hour standoff ensued. Eventually, Olesen came and surrendered without further incident. He was taken to a local hospital to be treated for cuts to both arms and his neck, “causing him to bleed profusely,” the charges state.
After, officers obtained a search warrant for the property and found a marijuana grow inside with lights and a ventilation system, according to the charges.
