A deputy was caught on surveillance camera stealing a series of items from the home of a deceased elderly man.
The incident occurred in Yorba Linda, California, where a deputy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department reportedly broke into the home of a deceased man days after responding to a report of the elderly homeowner’s death.
Steve Hortz initially visited the property on July 20 following a 911 call informing the authorities about the homeowner’s death from presumed natural causes.
Following his first visit to the home, Hortz, who is a 12-year veteran at the department, reportedly returned to the property several times and walked off with a series of items including safes, a rifle case, ceiling fans, and more objects that are “yet to be determined.”
According to the sheriff’s department, the first time Hortz returned to the late man’s home was on July 27 when he “broke into the unoccupied residence through the rear and left a short time later.” During his first break-in, the officer wore his uniform.
Weeks later, on August 10 and August 16, the disgraced officer returned to the property two more times, this time wearing civilian clothes, and walked away with a bunch of items belonging to the late homeowner.
Hortz was arrested after the homeowner’s family attorney alerted the police of the break-ins and presented them with surveillance footage.
Following the incident, the officer suspected of burglary has been booked into Santa Ana Jail. As the Orange County Sheriff’s Department also confirmed, Hortz has been placed on paid administrative leave.
“I will do everything we can to make sure he does not return to a uniform in this organization or anywhere else for that matter,” Sheriff Don Barnes vowed during a Thursday conference.
“He’s embarrassed this profession, he’s embarrassed this organization, and he’s embarrassed the almost 4,000 members who do good work every day.”
As the police chief added, it is believed they have sufficient evidence to make sure that Hortz gets charged and convicted.
Replaced!