On May 29, 2022, at approximately 7:15 a.m., dayshift officers took a report of a burglary at Hopkins Junior High School. A storage container had been broken into and various items were stolen. At approximately 4:00 p.m., a construction official reported that the suspect had possibly returned and was in the process of burglarizing classrooms.
Numerous patrol officers responded and began setting up a perimeter around the school. Officers were able to hear the suspect using a saw within the building. As the perimeter was being established, the suspect exited a door and immediately fled from a patrol officer while on an electric skateboard. Officers chased the suspect on foot throughout the school until the suspect approached a ravine. The suspect then left his electric skateboard and ran through the ravine and into a residential area off Kensington Dr. The suspect jumped the fence into a backyard as patrol officers responded to setup another perimeter. A drone pilot also responded as numerous homeowners were in their yards and in the immediate area.
As the perimeter was being established, the suspect fled from the rear yard onto the street where he was met by a K9 officer and K9 “Karo”. Upon seeing and hearing “Karo”, the suspect immediately surrendered. 38-year-old Aaron Hosmer of Santa Cruz was arrested for burglary and resisting arrest. Officers searched the school and found that the suspect had been cutting copper pipes and wires. The suspect had prepared a large batch of copper pipes to steal when he was intercepted by officers.
Hosmer has a lengthy criminal history including prior arrests for assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a firearm, criminal threats, burglary, grand theft, possession of burglary tools, receiving stolen property, violation of court order, vandalism, driving under the influence of alcohol, disturbing the peace, drunk in public, unlawful possession of tear gas, carrying concealed dirk or dagger, and possession of a controlled substance.
Hosmer was booked at Santa Rita Jail and has an arraignment date of June 1, 2022 at the East County Hall of Justice. He is being charged with felony burglary (Penal Code 459) and vandalism (Penal Code 594).
Incident: School Burglary Arrest
Date: May 29, 2022
Location: Hopkins Junior High School
Media Contact: Captain Eric Tang, [email protected]
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