A Monroe County resident helps capture a suspect during a manhunt.
The incident started as a retail theft at the Pocono Premium Outlets in Tannersville.
Two suspects took police on a dangerous pursuit on Interstate 80 that ended in Stroud Township.
A manhunt then ensued as every law enforcement agency worked together to capture the pair on foot.
"The gentleman came running past here into my backyard and then he just kept going. And then all of a sudden all heck broke loose and cops were all over the place."
Stroud Township Resident John Powers takes us into his back yard where police were searching last Thursday. Today he tells us he’s relieved both suspects were apprehended.
Powers says, "I was kind of nervous, my wife, she’s yelling “We’re moving!” But all in all, the police were really good. They were on the ball, they were here. They apprehended this gentleman. They brought the dog out, the dog chased him, caught him and everything turned out fine."
The pair from New york, juan munoz-meneses and nicolas vargas-duran are facing a slew of charges. The incident started in the afternoon just before three. Pocono Township Police responded to Tommy Hilfiger within the Pocono Premium Outlets for a retail theft. Police say they made away with around a thousand dollars worth of items that they currently know about.
Pocono Township Detective Aaron Anglemyer says, "Primarily just high end clothing from Tommy Hilfiger and they’re suspected of stealing from multiple other stores."
Officers attempted to make a traffic stop as the suspects were trying to flee. Their vehicle ended up ramming multiple police cruisers before they fled to Interstate 80 East, we’re told at times they traveling over 100 miles per hour.
Anglemyer says, "The actors put multiple people in danger that were driving on 715 and Route 80 at the high speeds that they were traveling and the way they were weaving in and out of a heavy congested area."
State Police were successful in deploying a tire deflation device near the North Ninth Street exit. But both guys then took off on foot over the guide-rail and into the woods. Munoz-Meneses was captured in Pocono Creek who later admitted to being the driver. Vargas-Duran continued onto Tanite Road where all Monroe County law enforcement got involved.
Anglemyer says, "The State Police in Stroudsburg, Stroud Area Regional Police assisted in the manhunt. Pocono Mountain Regional assisted with the pursuit and the K-9, and actually the Monroe County Sheriffs were involved as well."
Stroud Area Regional Police then put out an alert on their Crimewatch page for residents in the area to stay alert and vigilant. We’re told their assistance played an important role in capturing the second suspect.
Stroud Area Regional Lieutenant Michael Sampere says, "He was found hiding in someone’s backyard. But we were provided ring cameras in the area showing the suspect had gone through certain people’s yards, so it was a joint effort."
That backyard was Powers. Vargas-Duran was found by a police K-9 under a tarp.
Powers says, "He was laying underneath there. He threw stuff on top of it to make it look like there was nothing there. And then he moved."
Both men remain in jail on secured bail awaiting their preliminary hearings in Monroe County.
