8-year-old girl alerts police to burglary suspect while hiding in closet in Hemet

HEMET, Calif. (KABC) -- An 8-year-old girl was home alone for a short time when she heard a burglary suspect knocking outside her front door. She hid and called 911.

"She grabbed the phone and then I guess she ran over to a room," the girl's mother, Jasmine, said.

It happened in the 900 block of East Acacia Avenue around 1:45 p.m. Jasmine said her daughter was only alone for a short time.

"I had just left, and her sister was already coming, and it happened in less than 15 minutes," she said. "He knocked and then she hid."

Jasmine said the guy apparently went around the side gate and broke in through the back slider. Her daughter then ran into one of the back bedrooms and hid in a closet.

"I guess the dispatcher noticed she was whispering, but that's because he was already inside the room," Jasmine said.

Jasmine said the suspect hit her daughter on the arm and forehead and that's when she started screaming. She sustained minor injuries.

"She said her hysterical crying made him go away," the girl's mother said.

Hemet police said the suspect had three convictions - one for burglary and two for robbery - and had an 18-year prison sentence. But police said one of those convictions was stricken, and he was released on parole early.

They said that happened two months prior to this robbery.

"The suspect involved in this case was recently released on parole for a similar offense," Lt. Glen Brock said.

Hemet Police said their first officer arrived on scene as the suspect was running out of the house. After a short foot pursuit, the police caught up with the suspect and arrested him. He was identified as 35-year old Darrell Hosie, of Hemet.

Police called the 8-year-old girl a hero for her quick thinking.

"This 8-year-old is a hero. How she knew to call 911 so quickly and her ability to give our dispatcher some very relevant information," Brock said.

Jasmine said her daughter told her that calling 911 was her first instinct and she knew officers would come save her.

Brock said the police department offers a program called 911 for Kids.

"We make our dispatchers available to any organization that would like someone from the police department to come in and talk about 911: how it works, the information they need to provide the dispatcher to get them whatever help they need," he said.