Hearing set today for man who fled from state police

Hearing set today for man who fled from state police

By Brian Smith
Register News Writer

A Waco man was scheduled for a preliminary hearing this morning on more than 20 charges stemming from a Feb. 14 incident in which he allegedly stole his girlfriend’s car following an argument, wrecked it, then fled from Kentucky State Police at Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center before being tased.

Stephen M. Hager, 25, of the 1200 block of Dodd Road, is charged with first-degree unlawful imprisonment, second-degree criminal mischief, first-degree criminal trespassing, fourth-degree assault, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, second-degree terroristic threatening, driving on a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident causing more than $500 in damage, failure to report an accident, no registration receipt, driving under the influence, second offense, two counts of resisting arrest, two counts of menacing, third-degree criminal mischief, second-degree escape, alcohol intoxication, first-degree fleeing or evading police, third-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree promoting contraband.

According to the complaint filed by Trooper Toby Coyle, officers were called to the home of Hager’s girlfriend on Fike Road around midnight Feb. 14 after she called to report Hager had stolen the keys to her house and car.

Coyle returned to the home around 2 a.m. after Post 7 notified him the woman had called back to say Hager had broken in, pinned her to the ground and assaulted her.

The woman also told police that Hager had threatened to “put a bullet between her eyes,” the complaint states.

Hager allegedly had fled the home in the woman’s car, driving it into the woods, where it flipped multiple times. Hager then fled on foot, police said, and damaged a fence belonging to a neighbor near his home.

The complaint states that Hager had extremely slurred speech when Coyle took him into custody.

Hager was transported to Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center, where he later removed an IV from his arm and fled from the emergency room and walked down the Eastern Bypass, the complaint states.

Richmond police officers and Madison County sheriff’s deputies assisted state police in searching for Hager, and Coyle located him under the railroad bridge across the bypass near the hospital.

Hager was tased after refusing to comply with officers, Coyle’s complaint states, and attempted to kick the windows out of Coyle’s cruiser.

A white powder was seen under Hager’s nose after he was apprehended, the complaint states, and a search at the Madison County Detention Center uncovered a prescription pill in his pocket.

The unlawful imprisonment, escape, fleeing and promoting contraband charges are all Class D felonies individually punishable by up to five years in prison each if convicted, while the remaining charges are misdemeanors and traffic offenses.

The preliminary hearing will determine if prosecutors have sufficient evidence to present the case to a grand jury for possible indictment.



Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.