Arrest made in campaign office burglary of Arizona gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs
Oct 27, 2022, 10:33 AM | Updated: Oct 28, 2022, 7:58 am
(Maricopa County Mugshot)
PHOENIX — An arrest has been made in the burglary of the campaign office of Arizona gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs, authorities said Thursday.
Daniel Mota Dos Reis, 36, is accused of breaking into an office at the location of Hobbs’ Phoenix headquarters on Monday at about 7 p.m. and stealing multiple items, according to a probable cause statement.
A patrol officer on Wednesday recognized Dos Reis from surveillance images and said the suspect had been arrested earlier in the day for a separate burglary.
Dos Reis, who is homeless, was re-arrested and booked on one count of third-degree burglary.
“We are very thankful that the Phoenix Police Department acted so quickly to arrest a suspect,” Nicole DuMont, Hobbs’ campaign manager, said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
“We will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as this investigation unfolds.”
Hobbs’ campaign on Wednesday linked the break-in to the rhetoric of her opponent, Republican Kari Lake.
“Let’s be clear: for nearly two years Kari Lake and her allies have been spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit,” the campaign said Wednesday in a statement.
“Throughout this race, we have been clear that the safety of our staff and of the secretary is our number one priority.”
There is no evidence to tie the burglary to Lake.
Lake, during a Thursday afternoon press conference, said a defamation lawsuit is possible.
“We’re going to look at everything, I don’t know,” Lake said. “We’re just going to vote [Hobbs] out of office and send her back to the private sector.”
Hobbs and Lake will face off Nov. 8 in the general election to see who will replace term-limited Gov. Doug Ducey.