Hemet, Calif. — On July 23, 2023, the Hemet Police Department became aware of a use of force involving one of its Officers, which left one person with significant injuries. During this incident, Police Officer Jacob Hobson approached a group behind a gas station on the 1700 block of West Florida Avenue and determined a female in the group had an outstanding felony warrant. The officer initiated an arrest. However, the female initially resisted his efforts to place her in handcuffs. A subsequent use of force occurred, and the woman was seriously injured while being taken into custody.
The Hemet Police Department requested an independent investigation be conducted by the Force Investigations Detail Task Force, a team made up of investigators from the District Attorney’s Office and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, led by the Sheriff’s Office. The purpose of the task force is to ensure that no agency takes the lead on their own use of force investigation. This standard, independent investigation occurs in parallel with the involved agency’s own internal investigation.
After a thorough investigation, on August 17, 2023, the District Attorney’s Office filed three felony charges in case BAF2300849 against Hobson, including assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and two counts of assault by a peace officer under color of authority, with sentencing enhancement allegations that the assault caused great bodily injury leading to a significant brain injury.
Hobson has been placed on administrative leave while the Hemet Police Department completes its internal investigation. Any questions concerning the criminal investigation should be directed to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Force Investigation Division or the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.