Three held on bank robbery charges

Bond was set Monday at several million dollars for three people arrested after a Battle Creek bank robbery, police pursuit and shooting.

"This was a running gun battle on Columbia Avenue," Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert said. "He was hanging out of the car shooting."

Robert Williams, 40, of Battle Creek is charged with three counts of armed robbery, two weapons charges and felonious assault.

"We will be changing that to assault with intent to murder on (Officer) Andrew Winer," Gilbert said during Williams' arraignment in Calhoun County District Court.

Battle Creek police said Williams opened the rear passenger-side door of an SUV and fired at least three volleys of multiple shots from a Commando Mark III semi-automatic rifle at the pursuing police car.

The first shots struck the front right side of the patrol car driven by Winer, eventually flattening a tire as Winer continued the pursuit from Capital Avenue to Columbia Avenue to Main Street and eventually to Cherry and Union streets, where the vehicle crashed into another and Williams and two others were arrested after Williams was shot in the hand by Sgt. Kurt Roth.

Police said the pursuit began about 11:30 a.m. Saturday on Capital Avenue Southwest south of Columbia Avenue after Williams entered the PNC Bank at 2521 Capital Ave. S.W. and pointed a handgun at three tellers, taking an undisclosed amount of money.

"He went into the bank with the handgun out," said Major Austin Simons. "He was immediately pointing the gun. He didn't walk in with it tucked in his coat."

The robber walked to three tellers and took money from each at gunpoint. He then left the bank and fled in a Saturn SUV.

Simons said witnesses saw the vehicle and were able to give police a description. The SUV went north on Capital Avenue, passing a Calhoun County Sheriff Department deputy at Country Club Boulevard, but the description had not been broadcast and the deputy didn't know what vehicle was wanted.

But Winer spotted the SUV near Capital Avenue and Golden Avenue and began his pursuit.

The SUV went through a parking lot on the southeast corner of Capital and Columbia avenues and then continued east on Columbia.

That is when the rear passenger side door opened for the first time and Winer radioed that shots had been fired at his patrol car.

One of the shots hit the police car and punctured the right front passenger tire. Winer would call out later in the pursuit that his tire was deflating, but he continued to lead other officers in the pursuit.

Bush said the door opened at least five times and volleys of shots were fired three times.

The car continued to Main Street, turning north, and then east on Mary Street to Elm Street and then north to Cherry Street. Near Union the fleeing vehicle struck another vehicle and police said Williams fled on foot carrying a bag, but first firing shots from a handgun.

As officers converged, Williams attempted to climb a privacy fence and was shot once in the hand by Roth. Williams was taken to Bronson Battle Creek, where he was treated for an injury to a finger on his left hand.

The other two people, Richard Young, 36, and Whitney Hampton, 29, both of Battle Creek, remained in the car and were arrested without incident, police said.

Hampton was the driver, police said, and on Monday she was arraigned on three counts of armed robbery and fleeing from police. Young is charged with three counts of armed robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Hampton has told police she was forced to continue driving even though she told Williams she wanted to stop.

Magistrate Joe Brutsche set bond at $10 million for Williams and at $5 million for Young and Hampton.

All three are scheduled for a preliminary examination on Dec. 12.

Both Roth and Winer were placed on routine administrative leave; Winer is expected to return to work Tuesday.

Emmett Township public safety officers and Calhoun County sheriff deputies assisted Battle Creek police.

Contact Trace Christenson at 966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson.