Fort Lewis soldier charged in 2 bank robberies

TACOMA – A Fort Lewis soldier who was to go to Iraq next month has been arrested in two robberies at a Tacoma bank.

Sgt. Christopher Brian Thompson, 28, pleaded not guilty Friday in Pierce County Superior Court to two counts of first-degree robbery.

Judge Beverly Grant ordered him held in Pierce County Jail in lieu of $200,000.

Thompson is a member of the 38th Engineer Company, part of the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis that is scheduled to leave for Iraq in mid-April.

Prosecutors allege that Thompson robbed the same Key Bank branch March 5 and again Thursday, holding employees and customers at gunpoint.

Each time, the robber wore a gray hooded sweat shirt, black knit cap and a dark-colored mask. During the second robbery, tellers slipped a tracking device in the bag along with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Thompson was arrested Thursday night after witnesses and bank surveillance video helped investigators identify him.

Police found money, a 9 mm handgun and clothes that matched the items used in the robberies.

Thompson is not connected to five U.S. Army Rangers from Fort Lewis charged in federal court with a 2006 takeover-style robbery of a South Tacoma bank, FBI Special Agent Larry Carr said.