PONTIAC, Mich. (WXYZ) — "You can look at his eyes and tell something is wrong with him," said Laurie Jackson about her son, Mark Hoover, who is accused of terrorizing a number of adults and children in Pontiac during a violent crime spree that lasted 90 minutes Friday.
"I just want to see my son, please, because he needs some help," Laurie told 7 Action News Tuesday afternoon after her son was arraigned on 40 felony counts that include Home Invasion, robbery, carjacking and attempted rape.
Oakland County Sheriff's investigators say it all began Friday when Mark Hoover tried to snatch a neighbor's purse. When deputies arrived, they say he jumped out of a back window of his home in Pontiac and escaped on foot with a handgun.
Hoover then approached some kids who were sitting in a car in a driveway, according to investigators who say he jumped in the car and pointed his gun at the kids and demanded the keys. Hoover was not able to get the keys and fled on foot.
By the time it was over, Hoover would allegedly carjack and kidnap two people including an Amazon driver who investigators say he threatened to rape.
Hoover's mother says he went on vacation with friends for his birthday late last month and a couple weeks after he returned, he became quiet and paranoid.
"He kept saying, 'someone is following me, mama,'" said Laurie. "I'm sorry he done all that, but that's not him."
She's hoping her son will soon be able to be evaluated by doctors. Mark Hoover is now being held without bond.
The sheriff's office released the following timeline and description of Hoover's alleged crimes.
• Hoover began his crime spree at 5:33pm with encountering a neighbor in the 303 Ferry Avenue. He attempted to take a purse from the neighbor but was unsuccessful and ran back to his residence across the street. Deputies were called to this incident and Hoover escaped out of a back window and fled on foot.
• In the 400 block of S. Jessie, Hoover approached some kids who were sitting in a car in a driveway. Hoover jumped in the car and pointed a handgun at the kids and demanded the keys. He was unsuccessful in obtaining the keys and fled on foot.
• At the intersection of Osmun and Sanford, Hoover approached a woman in her car sitting on the street. Hoover pointed a handgun at her and demanded she stop her vehicle. The woman accelerated at Hoover and struck him. Hoover was able to recover and ran away again.
• In the 200 block of Willard Street, Hoover approached a female sitting in her car in her driveway. He opened the driver-side door, pointed a handgun at her, and demanded she get out. The victim began to kick Hoover, yelled, and honked her horn. Hoover fled on foot.
• Hoover proceeded to 314 Whittemore Street, where he approached a female victim and her granddaughter as they pulled into their driveway. The victim got out of her vehicle and Hoover pointed a handgun at her demanding her keys. She gave Hoover the keys and her purse. Hoover went into the car and could not start the vehicle. He left the car, threw the purse, and ran away.
• In the 90 block of S. Jessie, a vehicle was running unoccupied in the driveway. Hoover drove off in this vehicle and left the car on the side of the road shortly after.
• In the 269 Norton Avenue, Hoover forced his way into a residence, pointed a handgun at the homeowner, and threatened to kill him. The victim physically fought with Hoover. Hoover left the residence after taking the homeowner’s cell phone.
• Hoover proceeded to the 40 block of Matthews Street where there was a vehicle running occupied with two adults and four children under the age of seven. Hoover approached the car, threatened the driver with a handgun and demanded they exit the vehicle. He used the handgun to hit the driver over the head. The driver was able to accelerate and drove away.
• On Cass Avenue, Hoover approached an Amazon delivery truck, forced his way in the vehicle, and threatened the driver with a handgun. He then drove off with the victim still in the truck. Hoover threatened the victim, continued to point the handgun at her, and stated he was going to rape her. The victim opened the passenger door to jump out, but her foot became stuck. Hoover dragged the victim for approximately 20 yards until the victim’s foot became dislodged. He crashed the truck and left it on the side of the road. The Amazon driver was treated and released from a local hospital.
• In the 100 block of Gladstone, Hoover approached a running vehicle occupied by three adult males. Hoover pointed a handgun at two of the males demanding they exit the vehicle and kept one male with him demanding he drive away with Hoover. Hoover continued to threaten the driver with a handgun. At this time, Deputies were able to pursue the vehicle and utilized a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT), which stopped the vehicle. Hoover fled on foot. Deputies chased and captured Hoover, recovering the handgun he dropped while running.
