Charge filed in Olathe bank robbery

Surveillance photos from a Tuesday afternoon Olathe bank robbery helped lead police to a man now charged in federal court.

Former housemates of Donnie Joe Rucks said they recognized the robber’s clothing because they had done Rucks’ laundry while he lived with them, according to court documents.

Rucks, also known as Donald Rucks, was charged Thursday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., with one count of bank robbery for the holdup of the Arvest Bank at College Boulevard and Pflumm Road.

A bank teller told investigators that a man handed her a note telling her to be quiet and hand over $100s, $50s and $20s. He left with an undisclosed amount of money.

After investigators released photographs of the robber to the media, tipsters provided police with Rucks’ name and vehicle information.

After law enforcement officers found the vehicle at a Belton motel Wednesday, investigators learned that Rucks had paid cash for a room there, according to the documents.

When police stopped him later Wednesday in Olathe, Rucks, 42, denied being the person in the surveillance photos.

Investigators noted in the court documents that one witness who identified Rucks had known him for 30 years and told police she had seen him on the day of the robbery wearing the same clothing as the robber in the bank photos.

This story was originally published November 6, 2014 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Charge filed in Olathe bank robbery."