An Orange County judge set Gregory Hoole's bond at $7,650 after prosecutors alleged the 44-year-old Florida man intentionally drove his Ford Explorer toward an 11-year-old boy on an e-bike in Windermere before smashing the child's iPhone when he began recording the incident.
Background
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by WKMG-TV, Hoole was charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, child abuse, and criminal mischief following an afternoon confrontation in a Windermere neighborhood. Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to reports of a crash on Wednesday after witnesses reported seeing the incident unfold.
The victim told deputies that Hoole allegedly ran a stop sign while attempting to turn right into an intersection, driving his SUV into the opposite lane directly toward him. The boy stated he was able to leap onto the grass to avoid a more serious collision, but Hoole's Ford Explorer struck his leg and the e-bike.
According to the complaint, tensions between Hoole and the victim had been building since a July 4 incident involving fireworks near Hoole's residence. Defense attorney Andrew Darling told WESH-TV that the boy and his friends allegedly shot off fireworks over Hoole's home on Independence Day.
The Investigation
After the crash, the boy began recording Hoole with his iPhone and informed him he would be calling police. Investigators allege Hoole then slapped the child's arm, grabbed the phone from his hand, and smashed it into the ground before driving away from the scene.
Hoole subsequently called 911 from his home to report a "strong-arm robbery," claiming the 11-year-old and two other juveniles had been harassing his family. In recorded statements to investigators, Hoole admitted to driving toward the children and confronting them about their alleged behavior near his residence.
"He took my cellphone and threw it to the ground and then went home," the boy told deputies in a recorded statement included in the affidavit.
A neighbor's surveillance camera captured the entire incident on video, allegedly showing Hoole driving directly toward the victim before making an abrupt stop. The Hooles' own doorbell camera reportedly recorded a boy matching the victim's description at their front door just before the confrontation.
Key Takeaways
- Gregory Hoole, 44, faces charges of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, child abuse, and criminal mischief
- The alleged victim is an 11-year-old boy who was riding an e-bike when Hoole allegedly struck him in Windermere, Florida
- After the crash, Hoole allegedly smashed the boy's iPhone when he started recording the incident on video
- A judge ordered Hoole not to drive through the intersection where the alleged assault occurred and to have no contact with the victim or his family
- Hoole's defense attorney characterized the charges as a "misleading characterization" of events
What's Next
Hoole appeared in court on Thursday, where Darling argued there was no visible damage to either the boy's e-bike or Hoole's vehicle following the alleged incident. A judge set bond at $7,650 with conditions prohibiting contact with the victim and his family.
As of Friday, Hoole did not appear on the Orange County Jail roster, suggesting he may have posted bail. His next court date had not yet been scheduled at the time of publication.