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Just before midnight on June 29th, Santa Barbara Police Department patrol officers responded to the scene of a reported traffic accident involving a pedestrian. Upon arrival, officers “found a victim” who had been struck by a vehicle that had fled the scene. That victim, 39-year-old Juan Lopez succumbed to his injuries before emergency medical assistance responded to the scene.
On July 4, Santa Barbara Police arrested Brock Alexander Hoffman, 55, in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of Juan Lopez, 39, near Santa Barbara City College. The collision occurred shortly after 11:30 PM on June 29 in the 800 block of Cliff Drive near Loma Alta Drive.
According to SBPD Public Information officer Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale, “an extensive investigation led detectives and traffic investigators to identify and locate the vehicle involved in the incident.” “The collaborative efforts between police detectives and traffic investigators, who worked tirelessly to solve the case” led to the identification of Santa Barbara resident Brock Alexander Hoffman, 55.
Hoffman turned himself in to police on the morning of July 4. He was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run resulting in death and misdemeanor concealing evidence. Hoffman was booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail with bail set at $50,000, which he posted, leading to his release the same day.
