Inset left: Anthony Rhodes (Berlin Township Police Department). Inset right: The fire in the children”s clothing section (Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal). Background: The Walmart where Rhodes allegedly set the fire in Elkton, Md. (Google Maps).
A New Jersey resident has been jailed after allegedly igniting a blaze at a Maryland Walmart, intending to create a diversion to facilitate a heist at the jewelry counter, according to officials from both states.
Anthony J. Rhodes, aged 36, faces a slew of charges, including first-degree arson and creating an explosive device, as reported by the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.
This incident unfolded on the evening of April 29 at the Walmart Supercenter situated on East Pulaski Highway in Elkton, a quaint town about 50 miles northeast of Baltimore.
Around 7 p.m., the Singerly Fire Company, along with neighboring fire departments, swiftly responded to the scene. Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames within minutes, yet the store sustained considerable damage.
Authorities revealed that Rhodes managed to escape with approximately $10,000 in goods during the fiery distraction.
Initial estimates placed the direct fire damage at $5,000; however, further evaluations revealed that the cost of inventory lost due to smoke, dust, soot, and subsequent cleanup efforts reached nearly $10 million, according to Walmart.
Investigators obtained footage that showed a white male entering the store wearing a backpack and a mask over his face, according to a report by Delaware-based First State Media.
The same man is allegedly seen using a can of camping fuel and several boxes of fireworks to set a shopping cart on fire next to the children’s clothing section, authorities said. As the flames lick higher, the fireworks discharge, leading to more flames and confusion.
As patrons and staff exited the store, the man is alleged to have stolen multiple pieces of jewelry, according to law enforcement.
Later, the same man is seen exiting the big box store and fleeing the scene of the crime on a motorcycle, authorities said.
Authorities took note of the man in the Walmart wearing a Jefferson University baseball t-shirt. That shirt eventually led to the identification of Rhodes as the defendant, according to law enforcement. Conversely, officials said Rhodes has no known connection to Jefferson University or its baseball program.
“Working side-by-side with our ATF partners and Walmart Global Investigations, our team was able to identify a suspect quickly,” Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said in a statement provided to the Daily Voice. “Investigations such as these require an all-hands approach, and I am proud of everyone who was able to bring this case to a close.”
The defendant was arrested on Thursday by Berlin Township police in his hometown on an arrest warrant issued earlier this month, authorities said. As of Friday, he was detained in the Camden County, New Jersey, Correctional Facility pending extradition to Cecil County, Maryland.
