Fresno officer stabbed in chest, saved by body armor | Fresno Bee

A police officer was stabbed in the chest but uninjured because of his body armor Tuesday morning in northwest Fresno.

Police used a Taser stun gun to subdue the officer’s attacker at Shaw and Brawley avenues about 7:30 a.m., according to police Capt. Burke Farrah.

Farrah said officers went to a drive-through coffee stand on the northeast corner of the intersection after hearing that a man with a large Bowie knife was attacking a van and smashing its windows. The man was later identified as Travis Aaron Finley, 23.

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When the first officer arrived, Finley attacked the police cruiser; that officer called for backup. After a second officer arrived, Finley dropped the Bowie knife but pulled a smaller knife from his waistband and stabbed the officer, Farrah said.

An officer fired the Taser, subduing Finley, who was taken by ambulance to Community Regional Medical Center for removal of Taser darts.

Farrah said the use of the Taser allowed officers to take Finley into custody without using their firearms.

Finley will face a charge of attempted murder on a police officer.

This story was originally published September 05, 2017 8:45 AM.