A South Dakota man has been charged with first degree murder and aggravated eluding after he allegedly intentionally mowed down a Moody County deputy during a high speed chase.
Chief Deputy Ken Prorok was putting out spike strips on Highway 34 when he was struck by Joseph Hoek, 40, after he reportedly made “homicidal threats” near a Madison business Friday afternoon, KELO reported. Police spotted Hoek’s car after a 911 call, and the pursuit began, reaching speeds of 115 mph.
An eyewitness told officers he saw Hoek’s vehicle “intentionally swerve” to hit the deputy before it went into a ditch and flipped, according to an affidavit. Hoek got out and ran, the affidavit says, while the witness went to help Prorok. When other officers arrived, the witness chased down Hoek and held him until officers arrived and arrested him.
In an interview with police after his arrest, Hoek reportedly said that the vehicle was driving wasn’t “roadworthy” and shouldn’t have been on the road because “it suddenly accelerates and swerves on its own.”
Hoek Court Docs From Feb 2 2024 by kc wildmoon on Scribd
“My heartfelt thank you to that witness. I know who you are, I appreciate what you did,” Moody County Sheriff Troy Wellman said. “I know that you wish you could’ve done more, but I want you to know that we all appreciate that you stopped to help.”
Investigators found cold medicine pills, THC vapes, and marijuana in Hoek’s car, the affidavit says. His family said that he had been suffering from mental health issues and that some members of his family had secured protective orders against him. Police confirmed several protective orders had been issued in the past several months.
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[Featured image: Ken Prorok/Moody County Sheriff’s Office and Joseph Hoek/Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
