Norwalk: February 2012 Archives

NORWALK -- NORWALK -- Officials in Long Beach Friday morning found a man convicted of stalking entertainer Madonna who walked away from Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk last week, officials said.

Robert Hoskins, 54, was "located and en route back to the hospital," Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Pat Valdez said.

He walked away Feb. 3 from a non-secured area of the facility, 11401 Bloomfield Ave., where he was committed last year, officials said.

"The Long Beach Police Department transported the patient back to MSH where the patient is being housed in the hospital's high-security compound," MSH hospital spokesman Alonzo Townsell said. "MSH cannot release any specific information about patients due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act."

While the search for Hoskins was ongoing, Los Angeles police officials, in a written statement, described him as, "highly psychotic when not taking his medication," and had, "very violent tendencies."

Hoskins served a 10-year prison sentence for stalking and threatening Madonna after being convicted by a jury in 1996. The singer reluctantly testified against the man, who was shot by her personal security after he jumped the fence of her Hollywood Hills home.

"Upon his release from prison Hoskins also completed a stay at Atascadero State Hospital where he was determined to be a Mentally Disturbed Offender," according to the LAPD statement. Within about a year of being released from Atascadero, he had an additional police contact in July 2011 that resulted in his arrest and eventually being placed in Metropolitan State Hospital."

Court records indicate the July, 2011 arrest resulted in a conviction for vandalism.

Authorities had been searching the Long Beach and Paramount areas, where Hoskins was believed to have ties, officials said.

Hoskins was found in by Long Beach police about 9 a.m., police and sheriff's officials said.

"Officers in the area of South Street and Cherry Avenue in Long Beach saw a male subject matching the physical description of subject Hoskins walking down the street," sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said. "Officers made contact with the subject, confirmed his identity to be that of Robert Hoskins, and took him into custody without incident or injury."

In addition to Madonna, Hoskins has also reportedly made threats against actress Halle Berry, contributing to her decision to ask a judge for permission to move herself and her daughter to France.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report.