Grand Jury indicts Hoek

Formal arraignment for the man accused of Murder in the First Degree in the death of Moody County Chief Deputy Sheriff Ken Prorok is scheduled for Brookings County.
A Grand Jury this past Friday morning reviewed the charges against 40-year-old Joseph Gene Hoek of Sioux Falls. Ten individuals currently serving on the Grand Jury heard that morning from two witnesses — one law enforcement officer, the other, the Good Samaritan witness who rendered immediate aid to Prorok before tracking down the suspect himself and holding him until law enforcement could arrive.
That “Good Samaritan”, according to the Affidavit, is Tyler Kills-A-Hundred of Flandreau.
Kills-A-Hundred, by chance, happened to be on that same stretch of highway outside of Colman where Prorok was placing a spike strip to stop Hoek in a high speed chase out of Madison.
Kills-A-Hundred said he witnessed in his rearview mirror, Hoek intentionally swerve to hit Prorok.
The Chief Deputy Sheriff died at the scene.
The Grand Jury issued a formal indictment on Friday of First Degree Premeditated Murder, a charge that carries with it either a death sentence or life in prison. Hoek was also charged with Aggravated Felony Eluding.

Hoek’s attorney entered a plea of Not Guilty.
His next hearing is scheduled for March 13th at 11 a.m. in Brookings County, a location chosen only for availability of the Judge that day. The State that morning will announce whether or not it intends to seek the death penalty.
“Part of my responsibility in determining whether or not the intent is appropriate is to complete an investigation on mitigating and aggravating circumstances, which is occurring right now, to talk to Sheriff Wellman and his Department, and to talk to the victim’s…Ken’s family, and that is ongoing and occurring even today, said Attorney General Marty Jackley.
“Those factors will be reviewed and the appropriate reasoned determination will be made on or before March 13th.”
Moody County Sheriff Troy Wellman, along with Moody County State’s Attorney Paul Lewis, and several others, stood alongside the A.G. after Hoek’s hearing this past Friday.
“I appreciate everything everyone across the country and state have done for our office,” Sheriff Wellman said, as many different area law enforcement agencies have helped to provide the county coverage.
“At this time, we are doing the best we can trying to figure out what we’re going to do moving forward because we’ve got a job to do…we can’t forget about the citizens we swore to protect,” said Wellman.
Thousands of law enforcement from every level of law and from every corner of the state and country attended Visitation and Funeral services for Prorok this past Wednesday and Thursday.
The route each day from Flandreau to both Chester and Madison, where services were held, was lined with families, students, business owners and patrons, strangers, countless athletes that he’s coached over the course of his life and career, volunteers offering to help block traffic for the procession, and emergency responders from every department along the way.
“It’s impactful,” said an emotional Jackley.
“I was driving with law enforcement in the procession…to see young children standing there in the cold with their hands over their hearts, elderly citizens, in almost every street and house, people were coming out and showing their support for Ken, Ken’s family and the Sheriff’s Department, and I think that’s pretty amazing for our state.”
Hoek, who has a criminal record that includes domestic violence, stalking, threatening calls and minor drug offenses, is currently being held without bond due to concerns of him being both a flight risk and a threat to others. His trial is set for 11 a.m. on March 13th at the Brookings County Courthouse.