Latest news with #ScottRhodes
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
Leader in string of ATM thefts appearing in court, police say crew used Jaws of Life to steal $1M
The leader of a crew accused of stealing almost $1 million by using Jaws of Life to cut through ATMs is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday for about a dozen charges. According to investigators, 30-year-old Scott Rhodes and three other suspects were involved in the theft of multiple ATMs and the subsequent damages done to the buildings. The crew was linked to at least four instances as far back as Oct. 9, 2024, according to court documents. King County Prosecutors said Rhodes was allegedly involved in the following: Oct. 9, 2024 - The crew allegedly used the Jaws of Life to rip an ATM from a Wells Fargo at 3310 W McGraw Street in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood. They made off with $322,000 and caused nearly $80,000 in damage to the building, including the cost of replacing the ATM. There were two instances of theft on Oct. 7 that were linked to the group. Rhodes allegedly was only involved in the previously mentioned incident. Dec. 26, 2024 - The crew used Jaws of Life and a torch to pry open an ATM at a Wells Fargo at 8551 Greenwood Ave. N in Seattle. They made off with about $194,670 from the ATM. Jan. 27, 2024 - Prosecutors Rhodes stole a construction excavator from a nearby construction site and crashed it into the BECU bank at 4319 Stone Way N in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. They were able to access two ATMs that were housed inside the unlocked lobby of the building. One of the ATMs had about $101,000 cash in it. The other ATM was abandoned but was still attached to the excavator. Damages were about $500,000 to the building. All of these thefts were committed using Jaws of Life to break open the ATMs and safes. This is a tool that the everyday person does not have access to. It is used primarily by first responders to cut open severely damaged vehicles to get victims or patients out. Rhodes was arrested on Feb. 19 in an operation aimed at catching and arresting the other suspects involved. Three of those suspects all had outstanding warrants that were unrelated to the alleged ATM thefts, according to court documents. Seattle Police, King County Sheriff's deputies , Kent Police, an FBI agent and King County SWAT Team all responded to try and arrest Rhodes. He was found inside a parked car in Edgewood, and when he realized what was happening, he crawled out of the sunroof, dropped a large bag of what appears to be cocaine, and ran off, according to charging documents. A K-9 with the sheriff's office caught up to him and bit him, allowing Rhodes to be arrested. Rhodes was also charged with first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, first-degree rape and second-degree assault for an unrelated incident on Dec. 12, 2024. Prosecutors asked that bail be set at $2 million for Rhodes 'due to the facts of this case including the defendant's access to large amounts of cash, as well as flight concerns as the defendant is a suspect in recent crimes in Oregon,' court documents said. Prosecutors also say that Rhodes is 'likely to commit a violent offense' and that he has a 'past record of committing offenses while on pretrial release, probation or parole.' A judge set bail at $250,000. He is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
Suspect arrested in $1M Seattle burglary ring, ‘jaws of life' used in ATM, safe thefts
The Brief Local law enforcement and multiple federal agencies captured the leader of a crew suspected of multiple burglaries that used stolen vehicles and construction equipment. The suspects, four in total, used fire department "jaws of life" tools to steal from large safes and ATMs at Seattle businesses. The ringleader, Scott Rhodes, was booked into King County Jail for three counts of first-degree theft and three counts of malicious mischief. SEATTLE - Seattle police announced the arrest of a suspect in a $1 million burglary ring on Tuesday, where a crew used stolen vehicles and construction equipment to steal multiple ATMs. Local law enforcement and federal agencies assisted in the arrest operation on Feb. 19, where the ringleader, 30-year-old Scott Marcus Rhodes, was arrested. A Seattle detective was assigned to investigate a string of burglaries in October 2024, where police say large safes and ATMs were being stolen and torn apart. Police say the crew, consisting of four suspects, used stolen vehicles and fire department "jaws of life" tools to steal safe contents. It's believed these crimes were planned, as the vehicles used in the burglaries were stolen days in advance. Seattle police estimate the crew stole around $1 million and caused $500,000 in property damage. According to court documents, Rhodes and his group are responsible for an ATM theft at the BECU in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. They are also accused of several other ATM thefts, including at a Wells Fargo in the Magnolia neighborhood, another Wells Fargo in Greenwood, and a BECU in South Seattle. It's unknown if a burglary at the SODO Kemp's Cannabis dispensary was one of the group's suspected crimes, as a person used the "jaws of life" on the store's ATMs. Rhodes, the leader of the crew, was arrested by the King County Sheriff's SWAT Team in Edgewood in Pierce County. Investigators say they spotted Rhodes inside his car, and he tried to escape through the sunroof. He allegedly dropped a large bag of cocaine before being bit by a K9. The arrest was a collective effort by an SPD detective, King County Sheriff's Office, FBI, Kent Police Department, Department of Corrections, Attorney General's Office, and Offices of the United States Attorneys. Rhodes was booked into King County Jail for three counts of first-degree theft and three counts of malicious mischief. He also faces additional charges of two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of possession of burglary tools, and separate charges for rape, assault and kidnapping. His bail was set at $225,000. Rhodes will enter a plea on March 5 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. The Source Information in this story is from a post from the Seattle Police Department, court documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Puyallup man killed, family now sending ashes back to Japan: 'That's his final trip' 4 arrested following car jacking, crash, chase in Spanaway, WA 'You steal for a living': Everett antique store confronts accused serial shoplifters 2 bills aimed at improving community safety in WA advance Pirate plunders boat motors from Gig Harbor, WA marina To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
