Man ran stop sign to mow down 11-year-old on an e-bike and smash his iPhone when he started recording: Police

A Florida man who allegedly drove his SUV into an 11-year-old riding an e-bike claimed the boy was harassing his family.

Gregory Hoole, 44, was charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, child abuse, and criminal mischief after police said he intentionally drove toward an 11-year-old on an e-bike, hit the boy with his Ford Explorer SUV, and then smashed the boy's iPhone. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by local CBS affiliate WKMG, deputies from the Orange County Sheriff's Office responded to a neighborhood in Windermere, Florida, on Wednesday afternoon after getting reports about a crash.

When deputies arrived at the scene, the boy told them that Hoole allegedly ran a stop sign to turn right into an intersection, and drove into the opposite lane toward him. The boy told police he was able to jump into the grass to avoid a major collision, but Hoole's Ford Explorer "hit his leg, and the e-bike."

According to the complaint, the boy started recording Hoole with his iPhone after the crash and told Hoole that he was going to call the police. Hoole then allegedly "smack[ed]" the boy's arm, "grabbed his cellphone and smashed the cellphone into the ground."

Hoole left and called 911 from his home to report a "strong-arm robbery" and claimed that the 11-year-old boy and two other juveniles were purportedly harassing his family. According to the affidavit, Hoole told the police that the boy he allegedly hit with his SUV had come to his doorstep and rang the doorbell three times. When someone in Hoole's family went to the front door, no one was there. Hoole told police that the boys "scared everyone in the residence."

The Hooles' doorbell camera later captured a boy matching the description of the alleged victim standing at their front door and then leaving, walking back to his e-bike. Hoole said his wife was going to call the police.

Hoole told police that when he saw the boy while he was driving, he admitted to driving over to him and confronting him and his friends about why they were "harassing" his family. A verbal confrontation ensued between Hoole and the children, who reportedly "cussed" at Hoole. Police said Hoole told them he took the boy's phone and threw it to the ground and then went home.

According to the affidavit, another neighbor's surveillance camera captured the entire incident, which allegedly showed Hoole driving toward the boy before making an "abrupt stop." Police arrested Hoole and booked him into the Orange County Jail.

More from Law&Crime: Man allegedly tried to mow down kids on e-bikes and stole their phones so he could report their behavior to their parents: Police

When police spoke to the boy's parents, they said their son had been having issues with Hoole since an "incident with fireworks" on July 4. Local NBC affiliate WESH spoke to Hoole's defense attorney, Andrew Darling, who told the station that the alleged victim and his friends had reportedly shot off fireworks over Hoole's home.

During Hoole's court appearance on Thursday, Darling told the judge that there was no damage to the boy's e-bike or Hoole's vehicle after the alleged crash. Darling told WESH that the charges against Hoole provided a "misleading characterization."

A judge set Hoole's bond at $7,650 and ordered Hoole not to drive through the intersection where he allegedly hit the boy and not to have contact with the boy or his family. As of Friday, Hoole did not appear on the Orange County Jail roster. His next court date was not yet scheduled.

The post Man ran stop sign to mow down 11-year-old on an e-bike and smash his iPhone when he started recording: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.