2 arrested for GR-area bank robberies

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Two people face federal charges in connection to three Kent County bank robberies since early May.

Shariff Marcelle Williams was indicted on a two counts of armed robbery for the May 7 robbery of a Grand Rapids PNC Bank branch and the May 24 robbery of a Wyoming Fifth Third Bank branch, and one count of attempted robbery for an Oct. 5 incident at the same PNC Bank branch.

Williams allegedly committed the first two armed robberies alone and got away with 8,941.95 in the May 7 robbery and $34,821 in the May 24 robbery.

Rosheda Durham was indicted on one count of attempted bank robbery for the Oct. 5 PNC robbery.

Williams and Durham were arrested after the Oct. 5 attempted robbery of the Lake Eastbrook Boulevard SE PNC Bank branch, federal court documents show. Williams allegedly attempted to rob the bank while Durham was allegedly the getaway driver.

A man dressed similarly to the May 7 robber in a dark hooded sweatshirt, a black face mask and white gloves was noticed approaching the bank, so employees locked the doors. When the would-be robber tried to open the doors, he realized they were locked and fled to the bank's parking lot.

A bank employee told police a Maroon Ford Expedition was seen leaving the parking lot and heading north on East Beltline Avenue SE. A 911 caller soon advised authorities that the Expedition had turned west onto Burton Street SE. A woman was driving, the 911 caller said, and a black male was lying down in the back seat.

A GRPD officer in an unmarked car soon saw the car turning south onto Ontonagon Avenue SE, about 2 miles from the PNC, and pull into a driveway.

That officer pulled into the driveway after the Expedition. The man in the back seat was ordered out of the car. He complied, but then fled on foot. He was soon caught by several other GRPD officers who had responded to a call for assistance.

Meanwhile, the driver of the Expedition tried to drive away as police chased after the man. She was soon stopped and arrested by other GRPD officers.

The blue hooded sweatshirt, a black stocking cap with hand-cut eye holes, white gloves, and an airsoft pistol were found in the Expedition.

Durham soon admitted to authorities that she had driven Williams, her live-in boyfriend, away from the bank.

The Fifth Third Bank branch was also robbed July 24. No arrests have been made in that robbery.