Machete-wielding Brooklyn man shot by NYPD cops charged with trying to assault cops

Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News
Updated ·2 min read
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An emotionally disturbed machete-wielding Brooklyn man shot by NYPD cops after punching his therapist has been criminally charged, police said Wednesday.

James Olla, 30, is charged with attempted assault on a police officer, menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon. Charges for the attack on his therapist could be added.

Olla allegedly punched his 58-year-old therapist in the face, leaving her with two black eyes, at her practice on Court St. near Remsen St. in downtown Brooklyn Tuesday afternoon.

Armed with a machete, he ran from her office about 2:30 p.m., with cops who responded there notifying police in East New York, where Olla lives.

Before cops could catch up with him, he threatened one of his neighbors with the machete, police said.

Olla, described as mentally ill, lives in the residence with his mother and aunt, who stepped out as the chaos unfolded, police sources said.

He had assaulted one of his family members who lives in the house before he left for his appointment, police said.

An NYPD lieutenant pulled up to the house and began to walk toward Olla and onto the property on New Lots Ave. near Snediker Ave. about 4:30 p.m., police said.

“He calls the suspect out by name,” NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey said Tuesday. “At this point, our suspect gets up — and when he gets up, he grabs two knives. One was a machete, a rather large machete, about 20 inches, the other one was a large butcher knife.”

A blade in each hand, Ollla began walking toward the lieutenant, who repeatedly told him to drop the weapons, according to cops.

The lieutenant fired his gun twice, hitting Olla in the groin area.

The lieutenant immediately called for an ambulance while other officers on the scene rendered first aid.

Medics brought Olla to Brookdale University Hospital, where he underwent surgery, according to a family member.

Olla is on federal probation for wire fraud, the NYPD said.

His family told The News they had canceled his therapy appointment and weren’t sure how he got there. His sister said the family was aware he was aggressive.