Man accused of stealing veteran's dog and car after being chased in North Carolina; Dog is still missing

The man accused of stealing a local veteran's car while his dog was still inside was arrested after a police chase in North Carolina Saturday night.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Local veteran's car stolen with dog inside, family offers cash reward for return of beloved pet

Kenneth Crider was found and arrested by Nash County sheriff's deputies, nearly a week after Pennsylvania State Police said he drove off in 87-year-old Willard Martz's car with Lucky still inside.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Arrest warrant issued for man accused of stealing car that had veteran's dog inside

Police say Lucky remains missing.

The unknown is what tears Martz apart.

“It’s like a family member,” Martz said. “I mean, a really close family member and I'm worried about him.”

Lucky, a 10-year-old Airedale terrier mix, has been missing for a week. He was a loyal sidekick to the retired Marine after he lost his son to a rare form of muscular dystrophy in 2020 and as he battled cancer.

“It’s like I lost my arm and I can’t find it,” Martz said. “Something is missing in my life.”

Martz's daughter, Linda Folino, said the couple does everything together.

“They’re best friends,” she said. “They go everywhere together. They go to the store. They ride around in the golf cart up here. They are together 24/7.”

The couple was last together on Monday, September 23rd. They were in the parking lot of the Tractor Supply store in Mount Pleasant when state police said fugitive Kenneth Crider stole Martz's car keys from his pocket and sped away in his car with Lucky still inside.

“I wonder what happened to him, how he is doing, whether anyone cares about him, whether he is already dead somewhere,” Martz said.

A glimmer of hope came on Saturday evening. Police said they received reports of a suspicious car with Crider behind the wheel.

When the police tried to stop him, he led them on a high-speed chase through two districts and ultimately had an accident. According to police, Crider reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour and crashed into a police officer's car during the chase.

Nash County Sheriff's Office Capt. Robert Bowen said officers performed a PIT maneuver. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries but was released a short time later.

Nash County officers arrested Crider. They determined the stolen car was Martz's 2016 Ford Focus with PA license plate KVR-6440.

Crider will be charged in North Carolina and eventually extradited to Pennsylvania.

Officers said Crider told investigators he had Lucky run at a high rate of speed at a rest stop on I-95 in North Carolina before the chase. The dog was wearing a red leash.

“That’s only two-thirds of the puzzle,” Folino said. “We need the other third. We need the part we care about the most, Lucky. We want Lucky back.”

As investigators continue to search for Lucky, Martz remains hopeful that he will soon be home.

“He’s important,” Martz said. “If you knew him, you would love him. He’s the perfect dog.”

The Nash County Sheriff's Office is now asking people in their area to be on the lookout for Lucky. He is microchipped and wears a black collar with a zippered flea collar.

Anyone with information about Lucky's whereabouts is asked to call 412-298-8611.

The reward for finding Lucky is now up to $2,000. JNS Towing offers to pick up Lucky and bring him home.

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