Authorities say a tip led to the arrest of a third suspect linked to a drug-fueled crime spree in Western Pennsylvania.

Donald G. McClain III, 45, was found about 5:30 p.m. Monday hiding in an apartment in Ellwood City, Lawrence County.

“A tip came in after the news conference (of McClain's whereabouts),” said police Cpl. Tim Morando.

Police held the news conference at 11 a.m. Monday to provide details of their investigation and to announce that McClain, of Ellwood City, was wanted on an arrest warrant.

Tyler M. Amos, 25, of Cochranton, Crawford County, and Brandy M. Rombold, 38, of Ellwood City were arrested over the weekend in Ohio and charged in the crime spree that spanned several days and encompassed Butler and three other counties.

Police said Amos and Rombold have confessed to a string of crimes that include attempted homicide, kidnapping, aggravated assault and burglary

All three defendants are being held in the Lawrence County Jail on $250,000 bail each.

The trio, according to investigators, are known users and manufacturers of methamphetamine.

“Violent, out of control,” state police Lt. Eric Hermick said of the suspects during the news conference. “You know what we're talking about methamphetamine, being up several days without sleep, without food, on a crime spree we believe started Thursday the 29th of June.

“People that are under the influence of methamphetamines aren't acting or thinking appropriately.”

Each of the defendants has a criminal record. McClain's extensive rap sheet lists felony convictions for robbery and trespass in 2012. Rombold also is a felon.

While authorities believe last week's crime spree began in Crawford County, police first became aware of the trio's activities on Saturday morning, when they received a call about a burglary in progress with shots fired at Cable Hardwood, a sawmill in Perry Township, Lawrence County.

McClain was a former employee and knew the business would be closed on Saturday, police said. He also knew how to access different areas of the business to rob.

“He was the one who knew the access roads to this location,” Hermick said. “He assisted in the planning and execution of this crime.”

During the burglary, owner Jeff Cable, 60, made an unplanned visit, and while investigating an open door came upon the alleged crooks.

One of the suspects fired a sawed-off shotgun, and as Cable fled to his car, they shot his vehicle and forced him into his office.

There, they robbed and severely beat him with a baseball bat, fists, feet and a gun. They tried to shoot him but the gun “misfired,” or didn't fire when triggered, according to the police report.

The suspects later turned their violence on Cable's 84-year-old father in-law, Roy Magell, who showed up to feed cats at the business. He, too, was held at gunpoint, robbed and beaten before Amos and Rombold left in Cable's Toyota Scion.

“They tried to kill them,” Hermick said, “and it's my belief that they thought they killed the 60-year-old when they left the office.”

A medical helicopter flew Cable to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. His condition was not known this morning.

“He was in bad shape,” said Hermick. “He was completely assaulted, beat up pretty severe.”

Magell was taken by ambulance to Ellwood City Hospital, where he was later released.

After the attacks at Cable's Hardwood, investigators said, McClain separated from Amos and Rombold.

“By all evidence collected, (McClain) bugged out of the scene once the shooting started,” Hermick said. “So he's a conspirator in this case and culpable for all of the charges as far as we're concerned.”

Amos and Rombold continued their criminal rampage, police said, stealing vehicles and breaking into homes.

The pair allegedly stole a sport utility vehicle in Cranberry Township during a home burglary. At least two guns were also taken from that home on Hummingbird Hill.The couple eventually drove the stolen SUV to northeastern Ohio where Rombold was arrested Saturday. Amos managed to get away by running into thick woods before his capture Sunday.Both are cooperating with police.“Once they were detained and became rational, they were fully cooperative and provided us information we didn't have about crimes that hadn't been reported yet,” Hermick said. “They recalled the events.”Additionally police say they have collected plenty of evidence against the suspects.“We have physical evidence as well as video surveillance,” Hermick said. “And we have the modern day Bonnie and Clyde behavior following the robbery over there in Lawrence County as they continued to steal cars, burn cars, dump stuff, get into other vehicles, flee areas.”Police also found methamphetamine paraphernalia and precursors, substances through which other substances, like drugs, can be formed, when they made the arrests.“It's horrific,” Hermick said. “This involved everything from a kidnapping to attempted homicide.”In addition to the Cable Hardwood attacks and burglary, the trio engaged in car thefts, home invasions, and other criminally destructive activities. Items stolen included several loaded handguns.“Obviously, we did not expect this to end very well,” Hermick said.Authorities also at one point feared that Rombold's young daughter was with the suspects. Police later found the 10-year-old girl in Meadville, Crawford County.“I can tell you with certainty, the family of Rombold was extremely concerned with the safety of that child,” Hermick said.The family, he said, had not seen the child in two weeks. She is now staying with her grandparents.“There were concerns by her (Rombold's) statements made to family members that she was trying to get money to get her child back,” Hermick said. “When we're dealing with the methamphetamine community, that concern to us as law enforcement was the safety of that child, the whereabouts of that child.”Police are currently investigating 12 burglaries that may be tied to the crime spree. Amos and Rombold, investigators said, have admitted to seven of those break-ins, police said.Preliminary hearings for the defendants are set for July 12.