By ,
Published November 29, 2015
Three "very dangerous" siblings on the run since their alleged crime spree in Florida and Georgia last week could be anywhere in the U.S., a local sheriff said Tuesday as authorities continue a nationwide manhunt.
Pasco County, Fla., Sheriff Chris Nocco said authorities are expanding search efforts for Lee Grace Dougherty, 29, Dylan Dougherty Stanley, 26, and Ryan Edward Dougherty, 21, who allegedly shot at a police officer during a high speed Florida chase and robbed a Georgia bank last Tuesday.
"They have family ties in Florida," Nocco told MyFoxTampaBay.com. "They have other family throughout the nation. It's been a week now. They're out there somewhere."
Colorado Springs police say they have received "credible information" that people matching the description of the three siblings may have been spotted in Colorado.
Police said the possible sighting was reported Tuesday near Woodmen Road and Interstate 25, which is south of the Air Force Academy and north of downtown Colorado Springs. They aren't releasing other details of the sighting.
Sgt. Steven Noblitt says it hasn't been confirmed that 21-year-old Ryan Edward Dougherty, 26-year-old Dylan Dougherty Stanley and 29-year-old Lee Grace Dougherty are in the area, but the people spotted Tuesday were in a small white vehicle with the stolen Texas license plate LCS 909.
He also reiterated the FBI's warning that the trio should be considered armed and dangerous.
"They are three violent individuals that tried to kill a law enforcement officer," he said in a separate appearance on CBS' "Early Show, "We don't want people to think that these are just three kids."
"These are three felony [offenders]. They've actually committed numerous felonies throughout their lives. They're street-smart. They know what they're doing, and we need the public's assistance to help capture them," Nocco said.
"We want the public to realize, these are three, very dangerous people," he later added.
Last Tuesday, a Zephyrhills, Fla., police officer attempted to pull the trio over for speeding near the Florida-Georgia border.
After the officer began chasing the vehicle, one of the siblings allegedly began to shoot about 20 rounds at the police cruiser. The cop car was disabled and the gang escaped.
Later that day, the outlaws entered a bank in Valdosta, Ga., 15 miles north of the border with Florida, dressed in black and carrying two weapons, including what looked like an AK-47 assault rifle. They fired shots at the ceiling and demanded cash before fleeing, according to the FBI.
The siblings' mother, Barbara Bell, pleaded for her children to turn themselves in during an interview with a local news station.
"You've made some bad mistakes, but so far no one has been physically harmed," Bell told WFTS-TV. "The only safe thing, the only right thing, the only good thing -- possible thing to do -- is for you to turn yourselves in."
"I love you," she said.
Lee Grace has been arrested several times for battery. Earlier this year, she was charged in a hit-and-run accident, just 10 days after being arrested for DUI and battery of a law enforcement officer, according to the St. Petersburg Times. On her photo-sharing Flickr account, she describes herself as a proud "redneck," who loves "to farm and shoot guys and wreck cars" and says she likes "milk and German engineering and causing mayhem with my siblings."
Ryan Dougherty -- whose prior arrests included battery, burglary, destroying evidence and possession of methamphetamine -- recently was sentenced to 10 years probation for sexual battery after sending explicit text messages to an 11-year-old girl, according to the St. Petersburg Times. He is believed to have cut off an ankle monitor just before last week's crime spree began.
Their brother, Dylan Dougherty Stanley, with the shortest criminal record, was once arrested for marijuana possession.
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Newscore and The Associated Press contributed to this report
https://www.foxnews.com/us/fugitive-siblings-wanted-in-armed-bank-robbery-could-be-anywhere-in-u-s-police-say