GREENVILLE — A 23-year-old Greenville man is in custody awaiting his day in court, accused of intentionally trying to hit someone with his vehicle.
According to a Greenville Police Department affidavit, on Wednesday morning shortly before 9:50 a.m., Ethan E. Louk, with two passengers in his 1994 Ford Ranger truck, twice attempted to strike a bicyclist, Robert Harris, at the 500 block of Washington Avenue in Greenville.
Harris told officers Louk had first tried to hit him at the corner of Washington Avenue and Pine Street, but he had avoided being struck the first time by riding through a yard and then traveling through an alley between Washington and Gray Avenues. On the second attempt, Louk reportedly went southbound in the northbound lane of Washington, pulled the truck onto the curb, and struck Harris as he rode on the sidewalk.
A witness reported seeing the incident and after striking Harris, Louk continued back onto Washington “laughing with two other subjects” in the vehicle — Tonya Louk and Chet Musselman. The three then left the scene. Louk was questioned and arrested later that day. His motive for attempting to hit Harris is unknown.
Louk is currently being held in custody at the Darke County Jail awaiting bond. He is initially charged with Felonious Assault, a second-degree felony, and Driving Under Suspension, a first-degree misdemeanor. Additional charges may be added pending further review by the Darke County Prosecutor’s Office. It is not believed the victim suffered any serious physical injury.
Louk has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2011, with previous convictions of Driving Under the Influence, Criminal Damaging, two Assault charges, Disorderly Conduct, Underage Consumption, and Domestic Violence.