MUSCLE SHOALS — Police said DNA testing has led to charges being filed against a Kentucky man who is a suspect in the May robbery of BBVA Compass Bank in Muscle Shoals.

Investigators said Jarrett E. McGill, 39, 805 Andra Drive, Radcliff, Ky., is charged with first-degree theft of property and third-degree robbery.

McGill is accused of robbing BBVA Compass Bank branch on Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals on May 19. Police said he took money from a teller without arousing the suspicion of other customers.

Muscle Shoals police investigator Craig Rickman said Friday the charges were issued after DNA linked McGill to the robbery and a witness positively identified him as the bank robber.

“This is a perfect example of how important DNA and forensics are to law enforcement,” Muscle Shoals Police Chief Robert Evans said.

Rickman said the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences was able to use DNA found on evidence left in a nearby garbage bin to identify McGill as a suspect.

He said a witness positively identified McGill from a lineup as the bank robber.

Rickman said police started searching for McGill when the DNA results were returned. They found out he was already in jail in Indiana.

Rickman said McGill is being held in Portage, Ind., in connection with the May 14 robbery of a Chase Bank there.

“What everyone has to realize, unlike television, real crimes aren’t solved under an hour,” Evans said. “Sometimes it takes time to get the forensics information back. This is a case where the wait was worthwhile.

“Thanks to the forensics, things fell into place and our guys were able to tie everything together to make the case,”

Reports indicate the robber at BBVA Compass Bank spent about two minutes inside the bank. Rickman said the man walked up to the teller and said “give me all the loose bills.”

Rickman said the teller put the money into an envelope and handed it to him.

“When he had the money, he turned around and calmly walked away,” Rickman said.

He said the robber did not show a weapon or threaten the teller or customers who were inside at the time of the robbery.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.