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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Grants offered for projects that help public lands ... Medford teen sentenced for assaulting baby ... Mercy Flights debuts new helicopter ... Grants offered for projects that help public lands ... Medford teen sentenced for assaulting baby ... Mercy Flights debuts new helicopter ... CRIME Forensic evidence leads to arrest of Golden Wok robbery suspect Comment By Anita Burke Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Anita Burke Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 6, 2015 at 11:29 AM Updated Feb 6, 2015 at 2:38 PM By Anita Burke Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 6, 2015 at 11:29 AM Updated Feb 6, 2015 at 2:38 PM » Social News Medford police have arrested a man suspected of robbing a Chinese restaurant in January. Rhett William Howerton, 44, was arrested Thursday at his apartment in the 1800 block of Crater Lake Avenue. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on charges of first- and second-degree robbery and second-degree theft. He remained jailed Friday on more than $2 million bail. Investigators allege Howerton went into the Golden Wok, 718 S. Riverside Ave., Medford, around 7:10 p.m. Jan. 18, with a knife and a demand note. He gave a note to the woman working at the restaurant's cash register, then threatened to harm or kill her with a knife before leaving with an undisclosed amount of money, according to a Medford police news release. A Medford police forensic technician collected evidence, which police declined to describe, at the restaurant and a detective got surveillance video from a nearby motel. Police said the video was low quality but showed the suspect's vehicle, which had the driver's side front panel painted a different color than the rest of the body, turning south onto Central Avenue. Analysis at the Oregon State Police crime lab linked the evidence to Howerton this week, Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau said.  "This case was made on forensic evidence," Budreau said. "Most aren't." He explained that often the amount of good forensic evidence found at a crime scene is limited and analysis can take a long time. Investigators usually develop a list of suspects from other details of the case, such as witness statements and tips, then confirm an identity with forensic lab work. "He wasn't on our list until we got OSP's lab findings," Budreau said of Howerton. Howerton was familiar to Medford police, though. He had been arrested five times in the past six months, mostly on misdemeanor theft and domestic violence charges, Budreau said. Howerton most recently had been arrested Monday night on a misdemeanor theft warrant. With the crime lab report in hand, detectives paid Howerton a visit Thursday, searching his apartment and matching his vehicle to that seen in surveillance video, Budreau said. Anita Burke is online editor for the Mail Tribune. Reach her at [email protected]. By Anita Burke Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Anita Burke Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 6, 2015 at 11:29 AM Updated Feb 6, 2015 at 2:38 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501