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Search Continues For Ohio Teens After Armed Robbery, Officer Dragging Incident

ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- The search continues for two teenagers from Ohio, accused in a two-state crime spree that left one police officer injured, who took off into the Pennsylvania woods after an armed robbery early Thursday in Elizabeth Township.

It all began around 2 a.m. when an officer was called to the P&W mini-mart on Scenery Drive for a robbery in progress.

When the officer arrived, the suspect took off running around the back of the store. The suspect hopped into a pickup truck and tried to speed off. The officer was able to hang on to the hitch of the truck for a while, before falling off.

KDKA's Lisa Washington Reports:

Elizabeth Township Police believe a 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy on the run from Ohio were behind the robbery.

"Two young kids, and we just want to get them in for their safety and for the public's safety," said Asst. Supt. James Morton, of Allegheny County Police.

Investigators don't know what brought the teens to the area, but do know they're armed at the very least with a shotgun.

A pile of clothes and cash were found about three miles from the gas station that was robbed in Elizabeth Township.

With the use of a K-9, police tracked down the evidence believed to belong to Triston Kindle, 16, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and Rose May, 15, of Sycamore, Ohio.

"After searching all night and day out here… we've had all the local police – county police, state police with the helicopter. We made an extensive search throughout all these woods," said Asst. Supt. Morton. "They were last seen at approximately 2 p.m. about a half a mile up the road here where they re-entered the woods again. We put a boat into the water along the edge of the river. We had ATVs up there with no success. So we just want to put out to the public again. We've been getting some calls. Anyone sees these two individuals, give us a call immediately. They've got to be tried and hungry."

rose-may_triston-kindle2
(Photo Courtesy: Center For Search & Investigations)

Residents in Elizabeth were told to be on alert.

"I made sure my doors were locked front and back. Double checked a few places around here ourselves, like under our porch," Deborah Hurlburt said.

The Elizabeth Township Police officer's arms were bloodied and his uniform tattered after being dragged by the pickup truck. The officer was treated for some minor injuries at the scene and is okay.

A state police helicopter was brought in to search the area for the vehicle.

"We woke up around six o'clock this morning to the sound of helicopters flying overhead. We actually heard them once at three o'clock in the morning as well," Hurlburt said. "It was a little bit alarming. We figured they were either looking for a missing person or a suspect."

KDKA's Heather Abraham Reports:

The truck was ditched off Douglas Run Road in a wooded, hilly area near an old coal mine.

"We had K-9s from North Huntingdon. Police came out and did a track for us, and also officers on quads check the various bike trails," said Chief David Kerestes, of Elizabeth Township Police.

The pickup truck is believed to have be stolen from the Marionville, Jefferson County area.

Police in Ohio say the teens had previously stolen a truck near Kindle's hometown and also shotgun shells.

Police say to their knowledge, the teens have no connection to Elizabeth Township. Some of their family members came to the command post Thursday as the search continued.

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