NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- A man armed with a machete and a butcher knife was shot by police on the steps of his Brooklyn home after he brutally assaulted a mental health worker on Tuesday afternoon, police said.
The NYPD began searching for James Olla, 30, after he beat up the 58-year-old woman at 26 Court St. in Downtown Brooklyn around 2:30 p.m.
At a press conference, NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey said it was a “rather nasty assault” and that the woman suffered “substantial injuries.”
“Contusions to the face, swelling to the face—pretty bad,” the chief said.
Olla knew the health worker and was scheduled to meet with her, according to Maddrey.
Olla fled the scene, but police from the 84th Precinct were hot on his trail and were able to provide his name and other information to the 75th Precinct.
Police eventually found him on the front steps of his home at 202 New Lots Ave. in East New York.
A lieutenant approached Olla and called out to him. That’s when Olla grabbed two blades—a 20-inch machete and a large butcher knife, Maddrey said.
“He has a knife in each hand, and he starts advancing on the lieutenant,” Maddrey said. “The lieutenant gave multiple commands, ‘No, put the knife down, put the knife down.’”
“As the male advanced on the lieutenant and got closer, the lieutenant discharged two rounds from his weapon, striking the male in the groin–thigh area,” he said. “The male goes down, and the lieutenant immediately calls for an ambulance.”
Police provided medical aid to Olla. He was then transported to a hospital and is expected to survive.
The officers involved were also transported to area hospitals for evaluation.
After arresting Olla, they learned that he assaulted a family member before attacking the mental health worker. He also threatened a neighbor with the machete, according to police.
The attacks on the mental health worker and the family member did not involve the machete or the knife, police said.
Both the machete and knife were recovered at the scene, police said.
Olla is currently on federal probation, although police didn’t immediately provide details as to why.
He faces charges of attempted assault, attempted assault on a police officer, attempted assault with intent to injure a police officer, menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon.
The police-involved shooting is under investigation, as is standard protocol.
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