Published: May 14, 2008 10:05 am            

Man pleads guilty to carjacking

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A 20-year-old South 17th Street man has pleaded guilty to hijacking a cab, beating the driver and running the cab into a home on North Fourth Street on March 13.

Derrick D. Thrailkill, entered an open plea of guilty to charges of aggravated battery and vehicular hijacking on Tuesday. The charges were made in connection with an incident in which a Bluejay’s Taxi Service cab driver was taken hostage, beaten and Thrailkill drove the cab into a home in the 200 block of North Fourth Street at 1:59 a.m. on March 13.

According to police reports, a dispatcher for the taxi service contacted police when they lost contact with their driver who was picking up and delivering a fare. While dispatchers were on the phone with police, another call came in that someone had driven into their home. Thrailkill was arrested at the scene and was also charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and a misdemeanor traffic violation. Both the violation and DUI were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

A sentencing status hearing was set in the case for June 18, when the court will hear if a presentence investigation has been completed. At the status hearing, it is expected a date for sentencing in the case will be set.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.