Phoenix police identify man arrested on suspicion of burglary in Hobbs' campaign office break-in

Phoenix police have identified the man arrested in connection with the break-in of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs' campaign headquarters in Phoenix.

That man, Daniel Mota Dos Reis, 36, was already in jail. He was first arrested Wednesday morning for a separate commercial burglary, according to a police statement.

The break-in at Hobbs' office was reported to police on Tuesday afternoon, and police said it occurred sometime the night before.

An officer saw images of Mota Dos Reis on the news on Wednesday night and recognized him from the prior incident, the police statement said. The officer reached out to the jail and the department rearrested him.

He was booked on suspicion of third-degree burglary, the police statement said.

An Apple computer mouse, an Apple keyboard and a black Nikon camera were found missing from the office, according to a police report.

Mota Dos Reis had a backpack with tools used for burglaries along with a new camera when he was first arrested Wednesday, according to a police report.

A Hobbs campaign spokesperson previously said no one was at the office at the time of the break-in and several items were taken.

Hobbs' campaign had released photographs of a suspect to news outlets Wednesday, and police announced they had made an arrest Thursday morning but did not provide details until later in the day.

At a campaign stop with Planned Parenthood leaders before police named Mota Dos Reis, Hobbs declined to address news of the arrest or answer a question about what was taken from her campaign headquarters.

"We are very thankful that the Phoenix Police Department acted so quickly to arrest a suspect," Nicole DeMont, Hobbs' campaign manager, said in a statement. "We will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as this investigation unfolds."

The incident sparked a war of words between the candidates hoping to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.

Hobbs' initial campaign statement on Wednesday implied that Republican nominee Kari Lake, the former Fox 10 news anchor, and her supporters contributed to the incident by "spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit."

Lake told CNN that the statement was "absolutely absurd" and that "this sounds like Jussie Smollett part two." Smollett is an actor who was convicted earlier this year of lying to police and making up a hate crime hoax.

The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com did not publish the Hobbs' campaign claims about her opponent, but still Lake blasted the news organization and others in a news conference on Thursday for spreading what she called a defamatory statement.

Lake alleged the media was working against conservatives. She refused to take a question from The Republic.

Hobbs' campaign, meanwhile, continued to point a finger at Lake.

"Let me be clear, Kari Lake’s preposterous allegation that this break-in was staged is unfounded and her refusal to condemn the threats that have become common in our politics continues to stoke chaos," DeMont said.

Reach reporter Taylor Seely at tseely@arizonarepublic.com or 480-476-6116. Follow her on Twitter @taylorseely95 or Instagram @taylor.azc.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Police make arrest in burglary at Katie Hobbs' campaign headquarters