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 arrested and is awaiting trial after allegedly orchestrating a fire at a Maryland Walmart. The blaze was intended to distract staff while he pilfered goods from the store’s jewelry section, according to authorities in both New Jersey and Maryland.
The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Anthony J. Rhodes, faces multiple charges, including first-degree arson and the creation of an explosive device, as reported by the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.
This dramatic incident took place on the evening of April 29 at the Walmart Supercenter located on East Pulaski Highway in Elkton, a small community approximately 50 miles from Baltimore.
Around 7 p.m., emergency services, including the Singerly Fire Company and other local fire departments, were called to tackle the flames. Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire swiftly, but it still resulted in significant property damage.
Investigators allege that during the commotion, Rhodes managed to escape with approximately $10,000 in merchandise, using the fire as a calculated diversion.
An early estimate pegged direct fire damage at $5,000; subsequent accounting of inventory lost due to smoke, dust, soot, and remediation efforts after the fact totaled nearly $10 million, Walmart said.
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.