Suspect in Gateway Hostage Situation Convicted of Carjacking in January

The 22-year-old man identified as the suspect in Friday's Three Gateway Center hostage situation was convicted earlier this year in Allegheny County for a carjacking.

Klein (also identified as Kleine) Michael Thaxton pleaded guilty in January in Veterans Court to felony counts of robbery and receiving stolen property. 

He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of simple assault, reckless endangerment, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer. In addition, he pleaded guilty to driving without a license and other summary traffic offenses.

Allegheny County Judge John A. Zottola sentenced Thaxton to spend 6 to 12 months in jail and 3 years probation.

In May, the court issued a bench warrant for Thaxton due to a probation violation.

Police arrested Thaxton in July 2011 after grabbing a woman around midnight at a McKeesport BP gas station, throwing her to the ground and stealing her blue Hyundai Elantra, KDKA reported.

He led police on a lengthy car chase that ended with him jumping from the roof of an auto body shop in Uptown, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

KDKA reported that University of Pittsburgh Police attempted to stop him about 1 a.m., but that he took off and led police on a chase through the Uptown neighborhood..

Thaxton jumped out of the vehicle at the intersection of Gist and Tustin Streets, ran onto the top of the Forbes Auto Body and jumped to the roof of a neighboring property before injuring his ankle and being caught by police, KDKA reported.