Gregory Martin Hill: Charges, Plea, and Active Warrant

Gregory Martin Hill is a Decatur, Alabama, man charged with attempted murder for allegedly running over an off-duty Decatur police officer with his Jeep Wrangler in August 2022. As of June 2026, Hill is a fugitive: he failed to appear for his trial on June 8, 2026, and Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott issued a warrant for his arrest two days later, ordering that he be held without bond once caught.¹

What Hill Is Accused Of

On August 16, 2022, off-duty Officer Jack Brown found a Jeep Wrangler sitting in the front yard of his home in the 2200 block of 11th Street Southeast and approached the driver, Hill, who was 54 at the time, to ask if he needed help.² Hill cursed at Brown, then backed into a parked car and a mailbox before accelerating at the officer and striking a tree.³

Brown ran inside for his service weapon and handcuffs. When he came back out and tried to pull Hill from the Jeep, Hill accelerated and pushed the officer across nearly the length of the yard on the front of the vehicle.⁴ Brown fired multiple rounds into the Jeep during the struggle but did not hit Hill.⁵ According to the arrest warrant, Hill then backed the vehicle over Brown’s legs.² Brown and a witness held Hill down until backup arrived. Brown was treated at Huntsville Hospital and released the same night.¹

A Ring camera at the home captured much of the encounter, and the footage became a central piece of evidence in the case.¹

The Charges and Bond

Hill was first charged with second-degree assault and held on a $50,000 cash bond. Judge Charles Elliott later elevated the charge to attempted murder and increased the bond by $1 million.⁴ A Morgan County grand jury formally indicted him on the attempted murder charge in April 2023.⁵

His pretrial release conditions included house arrest with GPS monitoring, a ban on alcohol and firearms in his home or vehicles, pretrial supervision, and no contact with Brown or the Decatur Police Department.⁶

His Plea

On July 15, 2023, Hill entered a plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, preserving an insanity defense for trial.⁶

Why the Case Dragged On

Trial was originally set for December 4, 2023, and was continued repeatedly. After a string of motions through 2024, it was reset for March 3, 2025. On February 27, 2025, Hill’s attorney sought another continuance, saying counsel needed more time and that the parties were “continuing to discuss settlement.” Judge Elliott granted it and moved the trial to August 18, 2025.⁶

By early 2026, the case had been reassigned to Morgan County Circuit Judge Jennifer Howell, with no publicly stated reason for the change. Trial was then scheduled for January 26, 2026, but Hill’s attorneys filed another continuance on January 14, and Judge Howell approved it the next day, pushing the trial to June 8, 2026.⁴

The Missed Trial and Active Warrant

Hill did not appear in court on June 8, 2026.⁷ On June 10, Judge Elliott ordered an arrest warrant and directed that Hill be held without bond in the Morgan County Jail until further order of the court.¹ As of June 11, 2026, he had not been found, and no new trial date had been set.⁵

1
WHNT News 19. Man Charged With Attempted Murder of Decatur Cop Wanted for Failing to Appear for Trial
2
CBS 42. Video: Off-Duty Alabama Officer Hit by Car in His Front Yard
3
KCBD. Off-Duty Officer Hit by Car in Front of Home, Suspect Charged
4
The Decatur Daily. Trial Continued to June for Decatur Man Accused of Running Over Police Officer With Jeep
5
WAFF 48. Man Accused of Trying to Run Over Off-Duty Decatur Police Officer Misses Court, Warrant Issued
6
WHNT News 19. Trial of Decatur Man Indicted for Attempted Murder of Off-Duty Officer Moved to August
7
The Decatur Daily. Decatur Man Accused of Hitting Off-Duty Officer With Jeep Misses Trial, Warrant Issued