Beacon Journal staff report
Two robbery suspects led New Franklin police on a high-speed chase Tuesday morning that ended with a crash in Barberton.
Police Chief Dan Davidson said speeds approached 80 mph as a police cruiser pursued a Pontiac Sunbird being driven by two men suspected of firing a gun and robbing a Subway restaurant on Manchester Road.
The 8-minute chase ended about 9:45 a.m. in Barberton, where the suspects’ vehicle struck a curb and blew out a tire at Wooster Road, police said. One suspect ran about 40 yards before he was tackled. The second remained in the vehicle and was arrested at the scene, police said.
Alan Devine, 23, and Justin Harris, 29, both of Akron, are accused of robbing the Subway after firing a single shot once they entered the restaurant. Three workers and a customer were inside when the robbery unfolded about 9:25 a.m. No one was injured.
The robbers fled the store and ran toward Tate Road before getting into the Pontiac. New Franklin patrolman Garry Prebynski was responding to the robbery call when he spotted the suspects and gave chase.
The cars drove down Manchester Road and police say the men tossed a 9 mm pistol and a hooded sweatshirt containing money from the restaurant out the window near Renninger Road.
The suspects then sped onto State Road and crashed as they tried to turn onto Wooster Road, police said.