A Grosse Pointe man has been arraigned after allegedly using his vehicle to repeatedly ram a billboard box truck, causing non-life-threatening injuries to the driver. The incident, which took place on June 30 near the intersection of Mack Avenue and Vernier Road, escalated when William Michael-Louis Matouk II reportedly struck the truck multiple times before fleeing the scene, ClickOnDetroit reported.
Charges brought against Matouk include Malicious Destruction of Personal Property, a ten-year felony; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, a four-year felony; Lying to a Peace Officer, a two-year felony, and Failure to Stop After Collision, a 90-day misdemeanor. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “We take this case very seriously. By allegedly using his vehicle as a weapon, the defendant put lives at risk, and it is fortunate that the injuries sustained were not more severe. We are committed to ensuring justice is served," a statement was obtained by MacombGov.
Matouk faced arraignment in Grosse Pointe Woods District Court where he was granted a $50,000 personal bond with conditions. He must not contact any witnesses, is required to turn in his passport, and has to obtain permission before leaving Michigan. A Probable Cause Hearing is set for October 16, with a Preliminary Examination to follow on October 23 as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office initially handled the case but identified a potential conflict of interest, thus the case was referred to the Macomb County Prosecutors’ Office. Officials aim to ensure a fair process. The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has pledged to represent the people with diligence, underlining that "All that are accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law," according to a statement on their website.
