RAWLINS, Wyo. – Authorities arrested two armed men Friday in connection with a robbery in Wyoming, but they ruled out a connection to the slaying of a Colorado policeman nearly a year ago in the Four Corners.

The men, stopped in the town of Colby in western Kansas, had matched the description of two survivalists who have eluded authorities. Hours after the men were arrested, FBI agents confirmed their identities and said they were not the Four Corners fugitives, Alan "Monte" Pilon and Jason McVean.

"It’s not them," said Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane.

The men were identified as brothers Brendon J. Johnson, 21, and Raymond K. Johnson, 31, both of Hillsdale, Mich. They were being held on weapons charges.

Fremont County sheriff’s deputies said the two likely are suspects in a Wyoming robbery that fueled initial speculation about a link to Pilon and McVean.

For the better part of a year, authorities have been frustrated in their search for Pilon and McVean, accused of killing officer Dale Claxton during a traffic stop in Cortez May 29, 1998. Claxton died after he tried to stop three men in a stolen water truck traveling across a bridge.

They opened fire with automatic weapons, hitting Claxton and his cruiser 26 times before he could even unbuckle his seat belt.

In the ensuing chase and shootout, two Montezuma County sheriff’s deputies were wounded.

The third suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot days later some 55 miles away near Bluff, Utah, after he wounded a San Juan County, Utah, deputy.

McVean and Pilon eluded more than 500 police officers who tracked them in early June through rugged parts of Colorado and Utah.

Lane said the suspects were last spotted in June in Montezuma Creek, Utah, near the Colorado River.

Although there have been reports of them turning up later than that, none was confirmed.

Lane said he was disappointed by the false report.

"It’s pretty much back to square one," he said.

"I’ve said all along, and I still continue to say that they are not too far away from the Four Corners area. I think they are close by."

He also speculated that they have had help in eluding authorities for so long.

"I know that they have sympathizers in the area," he said.

"We’ll continue to take all the leads that come into the command center and process those leads and see where they take us."

On Wednesday, two men robbed the Rock Shop, a combination store, bar and restaurant about four miles east of South Pass City.

The one-time ghost town, which has been restored as tourist attraction, is about 300 miles north of Cortez.

The suspects, who were wearing military boots and ski masks, took about $500 cash and escaped in a stolen white truck, which was crashed into a ditch near the Patrick Draw Gas Plant, 32 miles east of Rock Springs.

Sheriff’s deputies believe the two fled on foot and then jumped an eastbound Union Pacific train early Thursday.

Carbon County Sheriff Jerry Colson said a caretaker at the plant initially identified the suspects as Pilon and McVean based on photographs.

Fremont County Sheriff Dave King said authorities found evidence the two men had been camping in the area for several days.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Two men who eluded a 500-officer manhunt in the Four Corners region last year after allegedly killing a Cortez policeman were being sought Thursday night in the robbery of a bar-restaurant in Southwest Wyoming.

Fremont County Sheriff’s officials said a witness identified the men, who were wearing camouflage, from photos of suspects Alan "Monte" Pilon and Jason McVean.

"Pilon and McVean are being considered as possible suspects," Sheriff David King said, adding, "I hope it is McVean and Pilon. ... Based on what we’re hearing I believe the possibility is very good."

Authorities are checking fingerprints and other evidence from a one-ton truck found about 9:30 a.m. Thursday in southwestern Wyoming to determine if the robbery suspects are McVean and Pilon. The truck was found near the Patrick Draw Gas Plant 32 miles east of Rock Springs.

The plant was locked down while sheriff’s officials searched the area by plane.

"In the morning we hope to obtain fingerprint evidence from the truck and make a comparison to confirm or eliminate this possibility,"said King.

They were believed to have robbed the Rock Shop, a combination souvenir store, bar and restaurant, in South Pass City in central Wyoming on Wednesday. No one was hurt.

They were wearing military boots and ski masks and took about $500 cash before escaping in a stolen white 1998 Dodge truck.

McVean and Pilon were dressed similarly when they fled into the desert of southeastern Utah on May 29, 1998. They and a third man are suspected of gunning down Cortez police officer Dale Claxton, who was killed during a routine traffic stop.

Three men in a stolen water truck on a bridge southeast of Cortez opened fire with automatic weapons, hitting Claxton and his cruiser 26 times before he could even unbuckle his seat belt.

In the ensuing chase and shootout, two Montezuma County sheriff’s deputies were wounded. A third suspect, Robert Mason, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot days later some 55 miles away near Bluff, Utah, after he wounded a San Juan County, Utah, deputy.

Authorities said a witness near the abandoned truck was shown a photograph of Pilon and McVean and identified them as the same men.

King said authorities found evidence the two men had been camping in the area for several days.

The search and investigation in Wyoming are being coordinated by Sweetwater, Fremont, Sublette and Carbon counties.