A married woman who was the getaway driver during an armed bank robbery gone wrong Monday in metro Detroit told authorities the robbery was exciting and compared herself and her spouse to “Bonnie and Clyde,” the FBI said in a criminal complaint.
David and Connie Johnson, along with Robert Gunther were arrested Monday in connection with an attempted bank robbery in Dearborn and another bank robbery about half hour later in Taylor.
More than $4,000 was stolen from the Taylor bank, but the money was immediately thrown from the window on Eureka Road after red dye packs placed in the bags by tellers went off.
Videos posted on social media Mondayshowed money strewn on Eureka Road, and people jumping out of their cars and onto the busy street to try and scoop up some of the dyed money.
RELATED: Bank robbery in Taylor leads to money flying in the streets
The three split immediately after the money exploded, said authorities. Gunther was later arrested in Taylor and the couple was arrested in Pontiac during a traffic stop. A loaded shotgun, which is believed to be used in both crimes, was found at the couple’s Pontiac hotel room, and their car was covered in dye, according to the criminal complaint.
So here’s how the day went down...
Attempted Robbery:
According to the FBI, David Johnson and Gunther entered the Dearborn Federal Savings Bank on Telegraph Road around 10:55 a.m. One man was armed with a shotgun, according to witnesses.
They said, “on the floor people... we want money” as they attempted to break into the teller’s area. However, the men left when they couldn’t’ gain access to the teller’s area.
Witnesses said the man with the shotgun wore a grey hoody, black mask and pants. The other man wore a two-toned grey hoodie, black mask, sunglasses and blue jeans. The FBI said it was Gunther and Johnson.
Taylor Robbery:
About half hour later, Gunther and Johnson, wearing the same clothes, and one carrying a shotgun, burst into Citizens Bank on Eureka Road in Taylor, which is about 6 miles from the first crime, and told everyone to “get on the ground and give them money,” according to witnesses.
This time they were able to get money: $4,686.
The men left in a Ford Escape driven by Connie Johnson, according to the FBI.
The criminal complaint states that a red cloud of smoke was emitted from inside of the vehicle, and the money was thrown from the window, about a mile from the bank robbery.
The Getaway and arrest:
The three immediately pulled over at the Bob Evans parking lot on Eureka Road and Gunther dashed out of the car on foot, shedding his clothing as he ran.
The criminal complaint says he was arrested a short time later, but does not go into detail.
During an interview with the FBI, Gunter denied involvement in the bank robbery, and said that he got dye on his hands when he saw money on the road and attempted to pick it up, like the other passerbys. He also admitted to “some mistakes” on June 18.
He insisted that he was not in the bank, but couldn’t talk about it for fear of his life and his family.
Connie Johnson told the FBI that Gunther was the one carrying the shotgun, but that when he fled their car, she took the gun back to their Pontiac hotel room, which is where it was later found -- loaded.
Gunther and Johnson Criminal Complaint by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
The three are expected to appear in Federal Court Thursday and will be charged.
Stay tuned for updates on 7 Action News at 5 p.m.
