Metro details crime spree that started with attack on cabby

By Ian Whitaker, Las Vegas Sun

Thursday, June 5, 2014 | 8:10 p.m.

Yohannes Tsegaye was just driving the woman in his cab to her destination last month, he told police, when she suddenly attacked him from behind, stole his car and ran him over.

When Good Samaritans came to his side, according to a Metro Police report, Tsegaye told them he believed she would come back to finish him off.

But police say that Erica Hagan, who was arrested on Saturday, fled the scene instead. She only made it a block, according to investigators, before she crashed and stole another car, which she used to ultimately escape.

By the end of the crime spree, police say the 42-year old had committed eight felonies, including attempted murder and robbery with a deadly weapon. Hagan was booked at Clark County Detention Center after a manhunt that lasted a week and a half.

Hagan was identified by a California identification card with her name left at the scene. Police say she matches the description given by more than 10 witnesses, including one of the victims.

According to a detailed warrant for Hagan’s arrest, the incident began downtown in front of the Plaza Hotel at around 2 p.m. Tsegaye was approached by Hagan, who got into his cab and ordered him to drive to Cheyenne Avenue and Rancho Drive.

Along the way, Hagan made him take a detour off the freeway, which he did. Somewhere on Rancho heading toward Cheyenne, Hagan became agitated and attacked him. Tsegaye told police she started strangling him from behind as he was still driving. After he pleaded for her to stop, she began hitting him in the head with a rock and destroying equipment in the taxi, including the radio.

"You're going to die today," Hagan said, according to the report.

Unable to call dispatch for help, Tsegaye brought the cab to a halt near Decatur Boulevard, where he got out and attempted to flee. Hagan moved to the driver seat and drove at Tsegaye, the report said, hitting him and pinning him against a fence.

Tsegaye suffered bruises and a concussion and was admitted to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Hagan fled the scene in the cab and, just minutes later, ran the red light at Cheyenne Avenue and Jones Boulevard and collided with several vehicles. Hagan got out of the wrecked cab and carjacked a man who had been stopped at the intersection. According to the report, she opened his door, unbuckled his seatbelt and pulled him out of the car before using the car to flee southbound on Jones.

Hagan was arrested at an apartment complex near Westcliff and Buffalo drives, three miles from the scene of the crimes.

Hagan is scheduled to appear in court on June 17. ​