The suspect wanted in connection with setting a fire inside the Elkton Walmart late last month was taken into custody Thursday morning in New Jersey.
Anthony J. Rhodes, 36, of Berlin, New Jersey, was arrested without incident yesterday by Berlin Township Police after an arrest warrant was issued for him earlier this month following his identification as the suspect by Deputy State Fire Marshals. Rhodes was charged with numerous arson and explosive-related charges, including first-degree arson and manufacturing an explosive device. Rhodes is being held in the Camden County (N.J.) Correctional Facility pending extradition to Maryland.
On April 29, 2026, at around 7:00 p.m., Singerly Fire Company and several surrounding departments responded after a fire was reported inside the store located at 1100 E. Pulaski Highway. Firefighters were able to control the fire within minutes, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal was requested to investigate its cause.
Investigators obtained video footage showing a white male who entered the store with a mask to conceal his face and a backpack. The man later used a can of camping fuel and several boxes of fireworks to set a fire inside a grocery cart next to kids’ clothing. As the fire grew, fireworks began to discharge, and as customers and staff exited the store, the man broke into the jewelry counter and stole multiple pieces of jewelry, valued at nearly $10,000 officials said. He later walked out of the store and drove away on a motorcycle. It was estimated early that the fire caused around $5,000 in direct fire damage; however, the inventory lost due to smoke, soot, and subsequent remediation efforts totaled nearly $10 million, according to Walmart.
During the arson and theft, Deputy State Fire Marshals noted that the suspect was wearing a Jefferson University Baseball t-shirt. Through various investigative methods, the shirt helped investigators identify Rhodes as the suspect. Rhodes has no connection to Jefferson University or its baseball team officials said.
The OSFM was assisted by agents and task force officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Walmart Global Investigations.
