Man robs bank over $20 worth of crack

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Federal court documents reveal that one of the men charged in a Grand Rapids bank robbery told police an offer of $20 in crack cocaine convinced him to drive the getaway car.

Emmanuel Butler, 57, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of aiding and abetting in a robbery that occurred on Feb. 17 at the Fifth Third Bank on Michigan Street near Fuller Avenue.

Butler, the court documents show, was arrested on Feb. 17 after a Grand Rapids Police officer noticed his car matched the description of the one believed to be the getaway car in the 5/3rd Bank robbery. The officer ordered the driver and passenger in the vehicle to stop. The passenger fled, but Butler -- the driver -- was arrested.

Butler told investigators that his roommate Andre Price robbed the bank and got away with more than $2,000, the court documents show. Butler said that Price offered him cocaine as payment to use his car and had Butler wait in the car while Price robbed the bank. Butler said that after the robbery, he and Price dropped off a third man -- who was not involved with the robbery -- and went to buy more cocaine.

Butler then said that Price had left the clothing worn during the robbery at a residence on the city's southeast side, the court document show. When police went to that residence on Saturday, they found Price attempting to flee. Price was arrested at the scene.

Additional charges of aiding in a heist at My Personal Credit Union on Plainfield Ave. and being an accessory after the fact in another bank robbery will be dismissed in exchange for Butler's guilty plea.

Butler faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. His sentencing date is scheduled for August 23.

Price had already pleaded guilty to the Fifth Third bank robbery and is set to be sentenced in August--a potential 20-year felony.

However, court records show Price's sentence could be reduced due to his cooperation with authorities to provide information on other crimes.