A DNA sample from sweat on a pair of sunglasses found near the scene of one of the robberies was recently matched to a sample of Bolden's DNA.
Kenneth BoldenSPRINGFIELD - Police on Wednesday arrested and charged a 45-year-old city man in connection with two separate bank robberies in 2009 after a DNA sample linked him to the crimes, police said.
Kenneth G. Bolden of 50 Clifton Ave. was arrested shortly after 6 a.m. at his residence by detectives Robert Bohl and Michael Goggin of the police Warrant Apprehension Squad, said Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William Fitchet..
He was charged with armed robbery while masked and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Springfield police had obtained a district court arrest warrant for Bolden after detective Timothy Kenney was able to link him to separate robberies of a TD Bank branch at 551 Sumner Ave. on April 29, 2009 and Sept. 26, 2009.
In each robbery, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and dark glasses handed a teller a note demanding cash. No weapon was shown but each note said the man was armed.
In each robbery, the suspect wore rubber gloves to conceal his fingerprints.
Bank surveillance footage from the April 29, 2009 robbery at TD Bank, 551 Sumner Ave. Police on Wednesday arrested Kenneth Bolden charging him with this and another robbery. DNA obtained from sunglasses found near one of the banks helped identify Bolden as a suspect, according to police.Delaney said that following one of the 2009 robberies, officers canvassing the neighborhood found a sweatshirt stashed in a basement stairwell that matched the color of the one worn by the suspect. Wrapped up inside the shirt was a pair of sunglasses.
Police were able to obtain a DNA sample from traces of sweat that were found on the glasses, Delaney said.
The sample recently came back to match the DNA sample for Bolden, he said.
That evidence along with witness statements allowed police to seek a warrant for Bolden’s arrest. Bolden was arrested June 23 and charged with breaking into houses in Six Corners that was damaged by the June 1 tornado.
Bolden was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on the charges in Springfield District Court but information on his court appearance was not available.