A suspect has been arrested in connection to the death of Santaquin Sergeant Billy Dean Hooser. Michael Aaron Jayne is facing nine felony charges, including murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, and other offenses. Arrest documents reveal a situation where Jayne threatened a female passenger with bear spray and a knife before ultimately striking and killing Sgt. Hooser with a semi-truck.
During a traffic stop on I-15, the woman managed to escape from the semi-truck and plead for help from the officers. Jayne then drove away, accelerated the truck towards the officers, striking and killing Sgt. Hooser. Jayne then fled, stealing another truck and driving to various locations before ultimately crashing and being taken into custody.
Jayne has a history of violence against law enforcement and has been ordered to be held without bail.