Ex-Arizona Sheriff's Deputy Allegedly Crashes Weddings And Steals Gifts, Arrested

A former Arizona Sheriff's Deputy accused of crashing several weddings and stealing thousands of dollars from the newlyweds has been arrested.

Landon Earl Rankin, 54, was taken into custody on May 4 by Chandler police. He allegedly stole between $3,000 and $6,000 from two different wedding receptions. One took place on April 15 and the other April 30, reported Fox10 Phoenix.

He reportedly would dress as a guest and before fleeing, he would steal from the bride and groom's wedding card boxes. While investigating, detectives found that a similar incident involving the theft of a wedding card box was reported in Pinal County. In that case, Rankin had been arrested and charged.

Later, he was identified in surveillance video as the suspect in the Chandler thefts. WSAZ3 News Channel reported that surveillance video from one of the Chandler wedding venues, showed Rankin grabbing the gift box then placing it in a bag. He was then seen walking out the venue’s rear door, running to his vehicle and driving away.

Chandler police said in a statement that it was later learned "Rankin was the suspect in similar investigations in the City of Mesa and the Town of Gilbert." So far, he has been accused of stealing wedding card boxes in 11 different incidents in the East Valley.

Marcia O'Donnell was watching her daughter, Katherine, get married. O'Donnell's husband, Michael, was walking their daughter down the aisle. At the time, they did not notice an uninvited guest. Michael said that the uninvited guest came "looking like the perfect wedding guest: dressed, button down, tie, slacks." He recalled that as they were all seated for the wedding, the man "picked up the box with every single present and walked out."

Sergeant Jason McClimans with Chandler Police said that he "victimized couples" on the most joyful day of their lives, and he "victimized them and their guests, and we're glad to bring justice to Rankin for these victims."

When Rankin was arrested, police reportedly found methamphetamine and fentanyl on him, and now he faces multiple counts of burglary and drug possession.

He was a deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, which he joined in 1994. Office spokesperson Lauren Reimer said that after he retired in 2015, remained a reserve officer until 2017.

After his arrest, Rankin told cops that he attended the weddings to hear the marital vows “because he was going through a divorce," reported Fox News.

Other potential victims in this case are still being searched by Chandler Police officials.