Charges filed against men suspected of trying to kill Hemet cops

Riverside County prosecutors have filed attempted murder and other charges against two men believed to have carried out a seven-month long siege of violence against Hemet police officers. Since December, someone’s tried to harm officers with everything from homemade bombs to an antique bazooka.

Prosecutors say Nicholas Smit, a 39-year old patio installer, and his alleged accomplice 36-year old Steven Hansen, were primarily targeting Hemet police detective Charles Johnson who arrested Smit on marijuana cultivation charges last year.

District attorney Rod Pacheco says most of the attacks coincided with Smit’s court dates.

“Because you can ensure you don’t go to state prison if you murder the officer responsible for your case and your arrest,” said Pacheco at a morning news conference in downtown Riverside. If convicted of the drug charges, Smit could have served up to three years in state prison. He was scheduled for sentencing on July 16.

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“He faced over ten years on the drug charges, however the judge made a different offer of probation or up to three years in prison,” said Pacheco. “He had never been to prison before.”

Smit could now spend the rest of his life in prison. He faces three counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of assembling and placing a booby trap and multiple weapons charges.

His alleged accomplice Steven Hansen faces a single count of attempted murder, conspiracy and attempting to ignite a destructive device with the intent to kill. He faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted of all charges.

Nicholas Smit has not been charged in connection with all of the Hemet police attacks but he could face additional charges. District attorney Pacheco says Smit kept the detective and other officers under close surveillance for months.

“I’ve never seen anything like this where law enforcement is targeted with so much violence over a sustained period of time,” says Pacheco. “Of course there are acts of violence against police officers all the time but I have not seen anything like this where an entire police department and quite frankly an entire city was targeted.”

The alleged revenge attacks began in December, first with a crudely made booby trap set outside the detective’s house. It didn’t work. A similar trip-wire trap was rigged with a zip gun at a police parking lot. It went off, a bullet narrowly missing an officer.

Someone also rerouted a gas line into Hemet gang task force headquarters, presumably in an attempt to spark an explosion.

That attack, “could have potentially killed seven, eight people,” said Hemet police chief Richard Dana. “When you intend to shoot off a rocket into a police facility, especially if you believe the rocket was active, you could potentially hurt a lot more people than that depending on however many people are there.”

The attempted missile attack occurred last month. Someone tried to fire a shoulder mounted World War II-era bazooka at Hemet police headquarters from the roof of a nearby market. The antique weapon apparently malfunctioned.

The shooter in the failed bazooka attack left the weapon behind. Evidence recovered from the scene apparently helped lead investigators to Smit and Hansen. Prosecutors also say both men have links to local white supremacist gangs.

Earlier this year, city code enforcement vehicles and a police evidence storage unit were purposely set on fire.

Suspect Steven Hansen also has a criminal record that includes prior arson convictions. He got out of prison last March shortly after the assaults began. Police Chief Richard Dana says even with Smit and Hansen behind bars, his officers are still on edge.

“And until I’m absolutely certain we got all the bad guys off the street,” says Dana. “I want ‘em to continue to feel that way for awhile. So yeah, breathe a sigh or relief and feel good for right now but then get down to business.”

Authorities say other suspects could be arrested in connection with what district attorney Pacheco called acts of “domestic terrorism.”

Smit and Hanson are scheduled to be arraigned on July 8. They are being held without bail.