Somerset County Officials announced the indictment issued by a Somerset County Grand Jury on February 24, 2021, charging Mr. William D. Hoke, Jr., 47, of Garibaldi Street, Bernardsville with two counts of first degree attempted murder and related criminal offenses.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Friday, December 20, 2019, at approximately 1:38 a.m. Bound Brook Police and Bound Brook Rescue Squad members responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a pedestrian-strike that occurred in the train station parking lot located along East Main Street in Bound Brook.
Police responded to the scene and found two men, I.G., 31, of Barbara Street in Bloomfield, and P.P., 36, of Hayward Street in Bound Brook, with multiple visible injuries. P.P. was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Somerset for evaluation and treatment.
I.G. refused medical treatment at the scene.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that the police investigation included witness interviews and collection of video from area surveillance cameras.
The videos captured the image of a black 2020 Dodge Durango registered to William D. Hoke Jr., driving up and down East Main Street before entering Lot 3 and intentionally striking the two victims.
The force of the impact propelled the victims more than ten feet and into a parked car. The Dodge Durango then fled Lot 3 at a high rate of speed and traveled northbound on John Street.
The police investigation confirmed that defendant Hoke and the two victims had been patronizing a local bar/restaurant prior to the encounter in Lot 3.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that Defendant Hoke was located and taken into custody that same morning, and lodged at the Somerset County Jail.
The State filed a motion seeking an order detaining the Defendant pending trial under the Bail Reform Act of 2017. On January 3, 2020, the State’s motion was denied and Defendant Hokewas later released from custody.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that in addition to two counts of first degree attempted murder, the Grand Jury also charged Defendant Hoke with third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, third-degree leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in serious bodily injury, and two counts of third-degree endangering an injured victim.
By Court Rule, an Arraignment on the Indictment will be held within fourteen days. The State will be represented by Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Murphy.