A 36-year-old Blaine County man has been charged with a felony for allegedly stealing another man’s credit card and attempting to use it up to 26 times at ATMs and retail stores in the Ketchum area.
Michael A. Rodman is also being investigated by Sun Valley police for car theft.
Ketchum police arrested Rodman the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 20, after he was detained by Hailey police who were told that he was at the Farmer’s Market on Main Street in Hailey.
“When we heard he was in our area, we wanted to catch him before he committed a crime in our area,” Hailey police Lt. Steve England said Monday.
Rodman was formally charged with the felony crime of “criminal possession of a financial transaction card” at an initial court appearance Friday in Blaine County Magistrate Court. Hailey attorney Christopher Simms was appointed public defender and bond was set at $5,000.
Blaine County Sheriff Gene Ramsey said Monday that Rodman was transported later Friday to Canyon View medical center in Twin Falls for a mental evaluation by a “designated examiner.”
According to court records, Rodman is homeless and suffers from a mental-health condition.
Investigation into Rodman’s alleged criminal activities started Monday, Sept. 17, when Rodman allegedly stole a vehicle and the credit card from a man he was staying with in Sun Valley. The vehicle was later recovered but Sun Valley Police Chief Cameron Daggett said that auto theft charges may be filed against Rodman.
Ketchum police Sgt. Dave Kassner wrote in a probable-cause affidavit that Ketchum police became involved when they received reports of a man attempting to use the credit card at banks and stores.
Kassner wrote that Rodman was unable to use the card because he didn’t have the proper pin number but alleged in his report that Rodman attempted to use the card 26 times to obtain cash from bank ATMs and food and shoes from local stores.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Michael A. Rodman
