Murder Charge Filed In Ventura Deputy Hit-and-Run Death

Prosecutors have filed a murder charge against a driver accused of running down a veteran sheriff’s deputy who had pulled over another motorist on a Ventura County freeway.

District attorney’s inspector Kimberly Michael says 25-year-old Kevin Hogrefe of Camarillo was also charged Thursday with a count of fleeing the scene of an accident involving death.

She did not know if Hogrefe has a lawyer. Sheriff’s Sgt. Eugene Kostiuchenko was hit early Tuesday, moments after he had completed the traffic stop and was returning to his patrol car parked on the side of U.S. 101 in Camarillo.

Authorities say Hogrefe fled but crashed his vehicle after a brief pursuit.

The DA says Hogrefe remains in custody with bail set at $150,000.

The 41-year-old sergeant was an 11-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department and the married father of two sons.