Free Soil man arrested in connection with Manistee safe stealing

MANISTEE — Manistee police have arrested two people in connection with stealing a safe from the Cassman School. Andrew Blue Lawrence, 23, of Free Soil has been charged with 20 felony counts in connection to stealing the safe on May 12, 2014. A 14-year-old Manistee boy has also been charged with the same felonies.

According to Manistee Director of Public Safety David Bachman, the safe was recovered by police from Manistee Lake near the Ninth Street boat launch. Police located gas cards stolen from the safe and were able to track the use of the cards to Lawrence and the juvenile. They were seen on video cameras using the cards.

Lawrence was taken into custody Tuesday without incident by a team of officers from local jurisdictions, Bachman said. If convicted, if faces two life sentences.