ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A Windermere man was arrested after Orange County deputies say he hit an 11-year-old child on an e-bike with an SUV, then smashed the child’s cellphone during a confrontation in the neighborhood.
According to the arrest affidavit, deputies responded on Wednesday afternoon to the crash near Golden Dewdrop Trail and Black Rail Street.
Investigators said the child told a deputy that a Ford Explorer ran a stop sign, turned, and traveled into the opposite lane before striking the child’s e-bike. The child said he was able to jump into the grass, but the vehicle hit his leg and the bike.
The affidavit states the child also reported the driver “smack[ed]” his arm, grabbed his cellphone and smashed it on the ground. The child’s parents told deputies they wanted to press charges and estimated the damaged phone — described as an iPhone 15 Pro Mini — and equipment totaled about $700.
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Per the child’s parents, there had been an ongoing issue with the neighbor ever since an “incident with fireworks” on the Fourth of July.
Deputies also reviewed video surveillance from another neighbor, which they said showed a dark-colored Ford Explorer run a stop sign at Black Rail Road and Golden Dewdrop Trail, turn quickly, travel briefly in the opposite lane, and stop abruptly.
The suspect — identified as Gregory Richard Hoole, 44 — accused the child of harassing his household before the incident, the arrest affidavit shows.
Deputies said Hoole called 911 to report a “strong-arm robbery” and told them someone had rang his doorbell three times, though no one was there when the door was opened, which frightened people inside the home.
Hoole claimed a home camera later captured someone wearing a helmet and reflective vest before running back to an e-bike, and that when he returned to the neighborhood, he saw someone who appeared to be the same child.
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That’s when Hoole reportedly pulled over to confront the juveniles about “harassing” his family, though they denied it, instead cussing and alleging that he’d tried to run them over, the affidavit says.
“Same juveniles got aggressive in his face with above camera,” the affidavit reads. “Gregory snatched his cellphone without touching them and smashed the cellphone in the street and went home.”
As a result, Hoole was taken to the Orange County Jail, the affidavit states. Hoole now faces charges of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, child abuse, and criminal mischief. He is held with no bond.
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