Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office

25 Kirkpatrick Street, 3^rd Floor, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901 (732) 745-3300

*Press Release* Date: January 14, 2009

The purpose of this press release is to provide information regarding the shooting of Jacob Olson (D.O.B. 2/28/1985, Ewing, N.J.) by the South Brunswick Police on January 12, 2009.

An initial investigation has revealed the following preliminary information about this shooting. On January 12, 2009, at approximately 11:14 p.m., a uniformed South Brunswick police officer in a marked police car observed a 2007 Jeep Compass speeding on Route 1 North near the intersection of Raymond Road. The officer activated the overhead lights on his police car and attempted to stop the Jeep which was travelling well in excess of the 55 m.p.h. speed limit. The Jeep continued to speed as the officer was attempting to stop it. As the vehicles neared the intersection of Route 522, the Jeep’s brakes were suddenly applied and it veered in front of the police car causing both vehicles to collide. After this collision, the police car travelled in front of the Jeep, and within seconds the Jeep struck the patrol car from behind several times.

Both vehicles came to rest at the intersection of Route 1 North and Route 522, with the police car in front of the Jeep. The driver of the Jeep, Jacob Olson, and the officer exited their respective vehicles. Olson who was armed with a knife in his hand came after the officer. The officer retreated, drew his gun and ordered Olson to drop his weapon. Shortly thereafter another uniformed officer arrived at the scene in a marked car. Olson then advanced toward both officers while still armed with a knife. The officers retreated while continually ordering Olson to drop his knife. Olson did not heed these commands while moving in the direction of the officers. As Olson continued to advance in their direction with knife in hand, both officers fired their .40 caliber service handguns at him striking him multiple times.

Olson was transported by ambulance to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where he was pronounced dead at 12:03 a.m. on January 13, 2009. An autopsy will be performed today.

A videotape from the police car as well as all other evidence are being reviewed to further this investigation.

Pursuant to protocol the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General has been notified of this shooting.

Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Investigator James Mullin at (732) 745- 4328.

Any questions about this press release should be directed to

Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas F. Sewitch at (732) 331-3389.