A 21-year-old man is accused of first-degree robbery after police say he helped a man rob the On the Go BP in Iowa City last November.

Gunnar Olson

A complaint from the Iowa City police department said Gunnar Olson of Iowa City helped another suspect, Marvis Jackson, rob the store by giving him a ride in a car and giving him a red coat to wear during the robbery on Nov. 13, 2012. Police say Jackson then entered the On the Go BP, 2315 Muscatine Ave., and used a gun to commit robbery, leaving with cash and a carton of Newport 100 cigarettes just after 9:30 p.m.

Iowa City police Sgt. Vicki Lalla said Olson knew the robbery was going to occur, drove Jackson to the area and then parked a few blocks away and waited for him to come back.

Lalla said Olson knew the robbery was going to happen when Jackson told him “Let’s go hit it,” and Olson was reportedly paid $20 and two packages of Newport cigarettes for his help. Police said Olson wrote a confession letter with an apology for his assistance in the robbery.

Jackson has been charged with three counts of first-degree robbery after authorities linked him to robberies at On the Go BP, Gumby’s Piza, 702 S. Gilbert St. and Suburban BP at 1905 Keokuk Ave. No one was injured in any of the hold-ups.

First-degree robbery is a class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison.