Woman arrested after robbery and chase

By Dave Toplikar

Sunday, July 13, 2008 | 2:05 p.m.

Henderson police say they arrested a 28-year-old woman today after she robbed a pet store at gunpoint, fled in a car through traffic shooting at police as they chased her and finally took an elderly female hostage at a gas station.

Police said they managed to surprise the woman and subdue her before she hurt anyone. The woman, Mandy Hagen, is now in the Henderson Detention Center awaiting formal charges, police said.

The incident began about 7:30 a.m. today when Henderson officers were called about a robbery at the PetSmart, 531 North Stephanie St. The caller told police that a white female with a handgun had robbed the store and left in a white compact car.

Officers said when they arrived at the pet store, the woman was gone, but they were able to spot her car in the area of the 95 Freeway and Tropicana Boulevard.

Officers said they attempted to get her to pull over, but she refused, so they followed. Police said they saw her pointing a handgun out of her window in their direction and they thought she was shooting at them.

During the chase, Hagen would slow her car down as she pulled up near pedestrians on the side of the road, police said.

"At that time, officers believed the woman was attempting to find a person to take hostage," Officer Todd Rasmussen wrote in his report.

Officers said they continued to pursue her to Vegas Valley and Nellis Boulevard.

At that time, Hagen quickly pulled into a gas station and stopped near a gas pump, where a 70-year-old woman was pumping gas, officers said.

Hagen then grabbed the older woman and took her hostage while holding off police with the handgun, police said.

"Officers then surrounded the woman and began giving her commands to give up and let the innocent woman go," Rasmussen said.

Hagen refused, officers said, but officers were able to get closer to her.

"One officer then advanced on the woman and took her to the ground by surprise," Rasmussen wrote in his report.

Hagen was then taken into custoday and is facing numerous felony and misdemeanor charges including robbery with a deadly weapon and kidnapping, police said.