An early evening shopping trip turned into a chaotic scene of fire and smoke at a Maryland Walmart, ending in the arrest of a New Jersey man accused of using an explosive diversion to pull off a jewelry heist.
Anthony J. Rhodes, 36, is currently held in a New Jersey jail awaiting extradition to Maryland. He faces a string of charges, including first-degree arson and manufacturing an explosive device, following an incident on April 29 at the Walmart Supercenter on East Pulaski Highway in Elkton.
The incident began around 7:00 p.m. when a masked man carrying a backpack entered the store. According to investigators, the suspect used a can of camping fuel and several boxes of fireworks to ignite a shopping cart parked right next to the children’s clothing section. The fireworks quickly discharged inside the store, escalating the flames and sparking immediate confusion among shoppers and employees.
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As patrons and staff rushed to evacuate the building, the suspect used the distraction to steal approximately $10,000 worth of merchandise from the jewelry counter. He then left the store and fled the parking lot on a motorcycle.
The Singerly Fire Company, along with several neighboring fire departments, responded to the emergency and extinguished the blaze within minutes.
While initial physical damage from the fire was estimated at $5,000, Walmart officials later confirmed that the total inventory loss caused by smoke, soot, dust, and subsequent cleanup efforts totaled nearly $10 million.
Surveillance footage proved critical to the investigation. Detectives noted that the suspect wore a Jefferson University baseball t-shirt during the crime. Investigators used the unique shirt to identify Rhodes as the suspect, though officials noted he has no actual connection to the university or its baseball program.
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The investigation involved multiple agencies working in tandem. “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. “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.”
Police officers in Berlin Township, New Jersey, arrested Rhodes on Thursday on an outstanding warrant issued earlier in the month. He is currently detained at the Camden County Correctional Facility.
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