AMERICAN FORK — A professed former gang member is in jail after police say he provoked a man into a fight then tried to stab him.

A man, 25, and his girlfriend went to the Rotary Park at 400 South and 200 East in American Fork Thursday night and met another man, police say. At that point, the former gang member took off his shirt and tried to pick a fight, according to a police affidavit filed in 4th District Court.

The verbal fight became physical and several witnesses told police they saw the first man pull out a knife and try to stab the victim, but he missed. The man fled the scene and was picked up by police near the police station.

During a later search of the girlfriend's car, police found the knife, as well as a blue bandana and a jersey, which the girlfriend admitted were gang related, according to the affidavit.

The man was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of aggravated assault.

— Sara Israelsen-Hartley