Hearing continued for suspect charged with pointing gun at police officer
Julius Hurt is wheeled into the office of Greene County Magisterial District Judge Glenn Bates on Monday for an attempted homicide preliminary hearing. Hurt is in a wheelchair because he was shot in the ankle during his arrest in May. (Photo by Kelly Tunney)
Kelly Tunney | Herald-Standard
Julius Hurt is wheeled into Magisterial District Judge Glenn Bates in Waynesburg on Monday for a preliminary hearing on charges of attempted homicide. The hearing was continued because Hurt did not have an attorney.
A preliminary hearing was continued Monday for a Waynesburg man who was shot in the ankle area after allegedly pointing a gun at and then running from a borough police officer May 3.
Greene County Magisterial District Judge Glenn Bates said it would be “improper to proceed” after Julius Maurice Hurt, 31, appeared at his hearing without having an attorney.
Hurt, who required a wheelchair to get from a sheriff’s vehicle to the courtroom, was asked repeatedly by Bates if he had made application for a public defender.
The defendant said he did that “over the phone on Friday,” prompting Bates to continue the hearing at a “time to be determined.”
Before Bates entered the courtroom Hurt was complaining that he was not getting proper medical attention at the Greene County Jail.
“It is very painful sleeping at night. I would rather be in a hospital,” he said.
A state police complaint against Hurt indicates borough police were dispatched May 3 for reports of an armed, unruly man walking behind the courthouse at about 1:30 a.m. Officer Charles Sochor found Hurt walking on Morris Street toward High Street and shouted that he had located the suspect.
Hurt then began to run, ignoring the officer’s commands to stop, state police said. Sochor chased the man on foot, and Hurt allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at Sochor, ignoring commands to drop the gun and get on the ground, according to state police.
“Officer Sochor quickly identified the threat and shot Hurt as he was running,” police said in the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.
The bullet hit Hurt in the foot/ankle area, causing him to fall. Hurt allegedly continued to resist arrest but was taken into custody, according to police.
Hurt was found with two firearms, which were illegal for him to possess because of prior felony convictions, police said.
Hurt is charged with criminal attempt to commit murder of the first degree, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, and two counts each of prohibited possession of a firearm and firearms not to be carried without a license.