Ohio Teen Runaways 'Made Right Decision' to Surrender, Cops Say

The pair jumped in the river to escape, but then turned back.

ByABC News
June 7, 2015, 5:33 PM

— -- A 15-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy who were wanted in connection with a two-state crime spree that lasted almost one week "made the right decision" when they turned around and surrendered rather than trying to swim across the Ohio River, police said today.

The teens, Rose May, 15, of Sycamore, Ohio, and Triston Kindle, 16, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, were trying to flee police in Tyler County, West Virginia, Saturday, when they jumped into the Ohio River, West Virginia State Police Sgt. C.J. Lantz said.

The two started to swim across the wide river, but then turned back.

"They surrendered," Lantz said. "I'm sure if they could've kept going, they would have. Luckily they made the right decision not to try to swim the entire width of the Ohio River and came back to shore."

He said the couple had a shotgun and May had a handgun.

"She had it with her during the foot pursuit and subsequently when she jumped into the Ohio River," Lantz said.

The chase that led to their arrest began when they were spotted on West Virginia Route 2 driving a GMC Denali that had been reported stolen. They refused to pull over and were chased by police for roughly 12 miles, until they crashed the vehicle in Sisterville, according to a police report about the arrest.

The two fled on foot, eventually jumping into the Ohio River to try to escape capture, police said.

The teens' parents were notified and are going to New Martinsville, West Virginia to meet with investigators, police said.

While Elizabeth Township, Pennsylvania, Police Chief David Kerestes had called the duo "a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde" in an interview with ABC affiliate WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, Rose's father John May told the station: "They're just scared kids."

"Neither of them have a history of hurting a single soul," May told WTAE-TV. "I don't care what you did, I just want you home safe."

PHOTO: A missing poster provided by the Allegheny County Police in Pennsylvania.
A missing poster provided by the Allegheny County Police in Pennsylvania.

The crime spree started Monday when the duo allegedly stole a truck, and then on Tuesday allegedly stole shotgun shells, in Ohio, according to the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office in Ohio.

The teens then allegedly ditched their first stolen car in Pennsylvania and stole a second car, according to the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office.

PHOTO: A missing poster provided by the Allegheny County Police in Pennsylvania.
A missing poster provided by the Allegheny County Police in Pennsylvania.

Early Thursday, the teens allegedly tried to rob a convenience store gas station, at gunpoint in Elizabeth Township, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County Police Superintendent Charles Moffatt told ABC News Friday.

When a police officer responded, the teens tried to flee in the allegedly stolen truck, Moffat said.

"The officer, in an attempt to grab them from the truck, grabbed the door handle and in an attempt to open the door, they started pulling away," he said. "The officer felt he had to hold on because he thought he would get dragged underneath the truck. ... He was dragged a short distance."

The officer then let go and the teens fled, Moffat said. The officer's injuries were not life-threatening, Moffatt added.

The second stolen car was found abandoned near the site of the robbery, officials said.

The teens were wanted in Pennsylvania on charges including robbery and aggravated assault on a police officer, Moffatt said.

ABC News has been unable to reach the teens' families.