Police arrest suspect in West Valley fatal hit and run

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, June 10, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A suspect is now in custody in the June 7 fatal hit and run that police have been investigating as a homicide.

According to a news release from West Valley City, police identified the suspect as 40-year-old Aaron Hosman.

Several agencies were working to find this suspect, and an officer with the West Jordan Police Department spotted Hosman around 7 p.m. Saturday at 7800 South and 2700 West.

Hosman was taken into custody without incident and has been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. He is facing charges of murder and obstruction of justice, the news release states.

The hit-and-run incident, in which Jeremy Hardman, 47, of West Valley City, was killed, occurred shortly before 3:40 p.m. Wednesday at 3600 West and 4100 South.

A probable cause statement from Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the two men were involved in a verbal confrontation in regards to Hosman mistreating a small dog. After the parties separated, the victim walked westbound through the crosswalk while the defendant was still in the area driving his Lexus passenger car.

“According to multiple witnesses, Hosman intentionally drove his car in the direction of the victim, striking him with the vehicle,” the probable cause statement goes on to say. “The victim died on scene from his injuries. Hosman fled from the area in his vehicle.”

Hosman’s vehicle was then found on Friday, the probable cause statement said, abandoned on the roadway and concealed under a tarp. “The wheels and tires on the vehicle had been changed, the windshield was missing the windshield, stickers had been removed, and parts of the vehicle were painted a different color,” the statement said.

After being read his Miranda rights, Hosman admitted to driving his vehicle in the direction of the victim and hitting him. He also admitted to attempting to disguise his vehicle by painting it and changing the wheels to a different style.