ROANOKE - Two suspects who were the subject of a large manhunt late Thursday and through Friday afternoon in Woodford County have been arrested, authorities said.

Police had been searching an area east of Roanoke on Friday afternoon for two suspects believed to be armed and on foot who fled from police after a gasoline drive-off Thursday morning.

Police overnight searched rural areas, farm outbuildings and other locations by land and air, said Woodford County Sheriff Jim Pierceall. Two men matching the description of the suspects had been spotted in that area early Friday morning, he said.

The suspects reportedly abandoned a vehicle north of El Paso off Interstate 39 on Thursday afternoon, hours after leading police on a pursuit south from Henry County following the drive-off, authorities said.

The men were believed to be armed because an empty handgun case was found in the vehicle the suspects abandoned, said Pierceall. Ammunition was found in that case, and other "long guns" were also found in the vehicle, although Pierceall said he did not know what types of weapons those were.

Henry County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jim Padilla on Friday said the suspects drove off from a gas station in Henry County without paying. Police saw a vehicle matching that description and tried to pull it over on Interstate 74 near Woodhull, but the driver refused to stop, Padilla said.

The vehicle then began to head south and turned onto Interstate 80 when other agencies picked up the pursuit, Padilla said. The vehicle is believed to be the same one found near El Paso.

Padilla said the drive-off is what prompted the pursuit. Thirty to 40 police officers were involved in the search overnight and into Friday, Pierceall said.

"If all they were responsible for was the drive-off … then why are they fleeing police to that extent? Why do they have weapons in the car? … People don't just drive around with weapons and ammunition in their car," Pierceall said.

Preliminary information from Illinois State Police indicates the suspects are from Georgia, Pierceall said. That's based on vehicle registration information and a suspect description that matches the owner's appearance.