Registered sex offender accused of killing California deputy
ALTURAS, Calif. — A sheriff’s deputy shot dead in rural northern California was killed by a man listed in state records as a registered sex offender shortly after the deputy arrived at a home to investigate a domestic disturbance, authorities said Thursday.
Deputy Jack Hopkins, 31, died instantly Wednesday morning and the suspect, Jack Lee Breiner, was arrested after a chase and shootout with another officer that left both wounded, the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Hopkins was the fourth California law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty over the last two weeks.
Breiner is listed in California’s sex offender registry as having committed lewd or lascivious acts with a child ages 14 or 15 and annoying or molesting a child under age 18. The sheriff’s office did not return calls seeking additional comment about Breiner.