DNA found on a sweatshirt has helped police identify a suspect in a two-year-old bank robbery. A detective obtained a new DNA sample from Rodney K. Phillips, 48, on Monday, to verify a match noted by the Washington State Patrol crime lab last month. Phillips is in prison in Walla Walla for robberies in Shohomish County. He was arrested July 4, 2009. Banner Bank at 1521 N. Argonne Road in Spokane Valley was robbed June 18, 2009, but a man wearing a 2002 Lady Royals sweatshirt and Spokane Riverhawks hat. Both items were discarded near East Sinto Avenue and North Sargent Road the next day. Phillips was later convicted of robberies in Snohomish and King counties around that time. Surveillance photos show his preferred outfit was a hooded sweatshirt, hat and sunglasses, according to a search warrant used to obtain Phillips' DNA sample. Police are awaiting the results of the new DNA test before sending the case to prosecutors.
Section:Photo
