LAKE VIEW TERRACE (CNS) - A parole officer shot in the face by a parolee
he was trying to arrest remained hospitalized today in serious but stable
condition, and the suspect was in custody facing a charge of attempted murder,
authorities said.
The shooting occurred about 1:15 p.m. Wednesday when parole officers and
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies went to a trailer in the 10600 block of
Foothill Boulevard to find a parolee at large, said Deputy Benjamin Grubb of
the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.
The parolee -- identified by the Los Angeles Times as 43-year-old Steven
Hoff -- had a record of burglary and weapons possession, authorities said.
``Upon entry to the trailer, a parole officer was met with the suspect's
gunfire and struck in the face,' Grubb said. ``Another parole officer
returned fire at the suspect. The suspect then fled on foot, and a containment
was established.'
The wounded officer, whose name was not released, is believed to be
employed by the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He was
listed in serious but stable condition, Grubb said.
During the search for the suspect, authorities closed a section of the
nearby Foothill (210) Freeway and locked down two nearby schools: Brainerd
Elementary School, a public school, and the private Delphi Academy.
About five hours after the shooting, the suspect was found in an empty
swimming pool, and he was arrested. A police dog bit him as he was being
arrested, Grubb said.
In addition to the dog bites, the suspect was found with freshly
inflicted gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital for treatment, Grubb said.
``The suspect is being charged with attempted murder on a police
officer,' Grubb said.
Los Angeles police Lt. Andy Neiman called the suspect a ``two-
striker,' meaning he has two felony convictions and could be sent to prison
for life if convicted of a third. Neiman said he did not know what Hoff did to
violate his parole.
``He has committed a lot of violent crimes,' Neiman said.