Lucky the dog was missing Sunday when his owner’s car was found.
A man wanted in connection with an East Huntingdon carjacking was apprehended late Saturday after a police chase in North Carolina.
But Lucky the 10-year-old Airedale terrier, which belongs to Willard Martz of Donegal Township man, was not in the stolen vehicle, said Nash County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Robert Bowen.
Linda Folino, Martz’s daughter, said they’re hoping for news on Lucky’s whereabouts.
“We’re taking it as it being two parts of the puzzle, now we need the third part,” she said.
Pennsylvania state troopers have been looking for Lucky and Kenneth Wilson Crider, 43, of Maryland since they charged him Wednesday in connection with the carjacking. He was being held at a jail in North Carolina on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, fleeing from police, reckless driving and related offenses, Bowen said.
Nash County sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop a Ford Focus about 9:15 p.m. Saturday after a report of a suspicious person in the county just east of Raleigh.
The car fled north on Interstate 95, hitting vehicles belonging to the sheriff’s office and highway patrol, Bowen said. No officers were hurt. Crider was stopped about a mile from the state line, he said. Police ran the car’s tags and learned it had been reported stolen.
Crider was treated for minor injuries before being taken to jail.
He had been on the run from police since Pennsylvania troopers believe he stole a vehicle in Maryland Sept. 22 and led authorities on a chase on the turnpike. He ditched that stolen vehicle, and authorities believe Crider likely moved on foot overnight to the Tractor Supply parking lot in East Huntingdon, where he set his eyes on Martz.
Martz parked outside the East Huntingdon Tractor Supply about 8:45 a.m. Sept. 23, leaving a window open for Lucky, and headed into the store. Police said Crider came up behind Martz and grabbed the car keys out of his pocket, taking off with the car and Lucky inside.
Crider and the stolen car showed up on surveillance video about 10 a.m. Sept. 23 at a Walmart just outside Connellsville. Police said the video from outside the Dunbar store showed Crider let Lucky out of the car to go to the bathroom in the parking lot.
Crider is charged with robbery, theft and receiving stolen property in the Pennsylvania case.
Lucky’s family has been devastated by his disappearance. They have posted the dog’s picture on Facebook in hopes he will be found. A reward is being offered.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lucky is asked to contact state police at 724-832-3288 or 911.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
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