UMATILLA The Umatilla County Sheriffs Office arrested two teens and is on the hunt for a third suspect after an attempted metal theft Thursday night near McNary.

Sgt. Tawin Compton said Friday that a citizen called 9-1-1 at about 8 p.m. after he found three people stealing scrap metal near Lind Road and Highway 395, just east of the small community of McNary. The group got into a white pickup and fled, the caller said.

Sheriffs Deputy Lindsey Evans spotted the vehicle and gave chase as it headed south on Lind Road and then turned left onto Bensel Road. A Hermiston police officer also joined the pursuit. The pickup continued about two miles before running off the road near North Ott Road. Compton said three people in the pickup bailed out and fled. Police found two hiding in field, a 17-year old male and 18-year-old Derek Marks, both of Umatilla. Evans arrested each for attempt to elude police on foot, second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree attempted theft, all misdemeanors.

The driver got away, Compton said, but the sheriffs knows who the suspect is and anticipated his apprehension as early as Friday night.