Officials release name of Santaquin police officer killed by semi driver; community pays respect
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- Santaquin police officers carry the body of Sgt. Bill Hooser in Santaquin followed by his family on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- Sgt. Bill Hooser of the Santaquin Police Department was killed by a semitruck driver on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
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- A deputy sheriff salutes with other law enforcement officers outside of a funeral home in Santaquin as Santaquin police transport the body of Sgt. Bill Hooser on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- Santaquin community members watch a procession in honor of Sgt. Bill Hooser on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- Santaquin police officers carry the body of Sgt. Bill Hooser in Santaquin followed by his family on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- Santaquin community members await a procession in honor of Sgt. Bill Hooser on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- A West Valley police officer stands with other law enforcement officers outside of a funeral home in Santaquin as police transport the body of Sgt. Bill Hooser on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- Santaquin community members watch a procession in honor of Sgt. Bill Hooser on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- Santaquin community members await a procession in honor of Sgt. Bill Hooser on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- Law enforcement officers salute in an honor line outside of a funeral home in Santaquin as police transport the body of Sgt. Bill Hooser on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- Santaquin community members watch a procession in honor of Sgt. Bill Hooser on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- An American flag hangs off a crane on Main Street in Santaquin on Monday, May 6, 2024, as the community awaits a procession in honor of Sgt. Bill Hooser, who was killed while on duty.
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- Law enforcement officers salute outside of a funeral home in Santaquin as police transport the body of Sgt. Bill Hooser on Monday, May 6, 2024.
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- A first responder salutes as a procession in honor of Sgt. Bill Hooser passes by in Santaquin on Monday, May 6, 2024.
A somber atmosphere blanketed the quiet community of Santaquin on Monday morning as residents lined Main Street to pay their respects to a city police officer who was killed early Sunday morning.
Police officials identified the officer as 50-year-old Sgt. Bill Hooser, who had been with the department since 2017. In total, Hooser had been in law enforcement for eight years and worked for the San Juan County Sheriff’s Department in New Mexico before coming to Santaquin.
Hooser is survived by his wife, two daughters and one granddaughter.
The scene along Santaquin’s Main Street was silent, aside from the sound of patrol cars and fire engines driving in the miles-long procession that transported the fallen officer from the medical examiner’s office back to Hooser’s hometown.
Police officers and first responders from around Utah County joined the procession as it moved southbound on Interstate 15 on its way to Santaquin. It ended at a funeral home where police officers lined the street, standing in salute as Santaquin policemen, followed by Hooser’s family, carried his flag-draped coffin from the ambulance into the building.
Mike Hooser, the officer’s younger brother, spoke during a press conference Monday afternoon, sharing a statement from the family.
Hooser’s brother tearfully expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support his family has received over the last day from law enforcement agencies and the community.
“The Hooser and Edwards family are devastated by the loss of a beautiful husband, son, brother, father and grandfather,” Mike Hooser said. “Such a senseless loss that hit so hard for not just our family, but our extended law enforcement family and the community.”
“Although nothing could ever make up the loss we feel, we take solace knowing that Bill died a hero,” he continued.
Mike Hooser said his brother began his time in law enforcement as a volunteer “late in life” and said he loved being a police officer.
Santaquin Police Chief Rodney Hurst said Bill Hooser was a “top-notch officer” who was promoted to his position as a sergeant in February.
“I know everybody says this when an officer gets killed, but Sgt. Hooser was one of those guys that was really squared away,” Hurst said.
Hooser was killed early Sunday morning when he and a Utah Highway patrolman responded to a report of a man standing on the trailer of a semitruck as it was moving down the interstate.
Utah Highway Patrol Col. Michael Rapich said he is grateful the highway patrolman was unharmed but “at the same time, we are devastated and our hearts are broken because of the loss of an incredible hero who responded to the incident to help our trooper in a challenging situation.”
Police officials provided a more detailed timeline of the fatal encounter during a press briefing Monday afternoon.
According to police, Utah Highway Patrol dispatch near Richfield received a call from a driver who reported seeing someone standing on the back of a semitruck as it traveled north around mile marker 207.
Utah Highway Patrol first spotted the truck around mile marker 244 and the highway patrolman and Hooser initiated a traffic stop around exit 244 in Santaquin.
Officers reportedly made contact with the driver, who then allegedly drove forward, made a U-turn, targeted the officers and struck both vehicles and Hooser.
Police identified the suspect as 42-year-old Micheal Aaron Jayne, who was placed into custody in Vernal late Sunday morning after reportedly fleeing and stealing multiple vehicles before he was arrested.
Jayne allegedly fled the scene then went to a nearby convenience store and stole another semitruck, police said. He then reportedly left the semi in Mona and stole a Ford pickup truck. That truck was located in Mount Pleasant, where Jayne allegedly stole another vehicle, which he was driving when he fled from UHP troopers in Vernal, ending in him crashing in the vehicle.
UHP Lt. Cameron Roden clarified at the press conference that Jayne is still hospitalized due to his injuries from the crash.
In regard to the initial 911 call, which reported a person standing on the semitruck, Roden did not provide additional details on those circumstances.
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