Camden County man accused of setting fire at a Maryland Walmart and stealing $10K in jewelry, police say
Berlin Township police arrested Anthony J. Rhodes after he allegedly caused an estimated $10 million in damages to a Walmart store in April.
A Camden County man has been arrested for allegedly using camping fuel and fireworks to start a fire inside a Walmart in Maryland before stealing nearly $10,000 in jewelry, authorities say.
Berlin Township police arrested Anthony J. Rhodes, 36, of Berlin, after he allegedly caused an estimated $10 million in damages, according to a statement Friday by the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal.
The chaotic scene unfolded on the night of April 29 at a store in Elkton, Md. Singerly Fire Department in Cecil County, Maryland, and several other nearby departments responded to a fire reported inside the Walmart on Pulaski Highway and were able to control the fire within minutes.
The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal was asked to investigate.
Investigators obtained video footage showing a man entering the store with a backpack and a mask to conceal his face. The man subsequently used camping fuel and several boxes of fireworks to start a fire inside a grocery cart next to the children’s clothing, according to the fire marshal.
When the fire grew, fireworks started to go off and customers headed for the exit. That’s when the man broke into the jewelry display case and stole many pieces valued at almost $10,000, the news release stated.
He then walked out of the store and drove away on a motorcycle.
It is estimated that the blaze caused about $5,000 in fire damage, but the inventory lost to smoke, soot, and remediation costs totaled nearly $10 million, according to authorities.
Deputy state fire marshals observed that the suspect wore a Jefferson University baseball T-shirt. That helped investigators identify Rhodes as the suspect, authorities said. Rhodes is not connected to Jefferson University or its baseball team, authorities said.
Rhodes is charged with numerous arson and explosive-related charges, including first-degree arson and manufacturing an explosive device.
Rhodes was being held at the Camden County jail pending extradition to Maryland.
