2 men charged with stealing Goodyear Ballpark items, including radar gun
May 7, 2019, 4:15 AM | Updated: 7:18 am
(Facebook Photo/Goodyear Ballpark)
PHOENIX – Two men were arrested last week for allegedly stealing property from Goodyear Ballpark, spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, on three occasions, authorities said.
Buckeye residents Stephen Jesus Peers Jr., 30, and Dustin Lee Washburn, 23, faced multiple burglary charges for allegedly taking around $35,000 worth of property, including training equipment and a radar gun, Goodyear Police spokeswoman Lisa Berry told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday.
They also faced drug possession charges.
“On April 29, the staff at the Reds’ facility went to work in the early-morning hours and actually found the two suspects in the building,” Berry said.
The staff called police after the men fled.
Investigators connected the suspects to items being sold online and arranged a meeting with the sellers later the same day.
Peers and Washburn were arrested after they showed up in the vehicle seen on surveillance video from the ballpark.
“We believe that these guys are connected through … a company that contracts workers to work the concessions at the ballpark,” Berry said.
Peers and Washburn were linked to three burglaries — April 6, 14 and 29 — in which equipment, cash, sunglasses, televisions, laptops and a leaf blower were taken.
According to online court records, both men pleaded guilty to two third-degree burglary charges Monday.
Berry said most of the property was recovered but some was already sold.
“Keep in mind that when you are buying property off a website such as OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace … unfortunately there are people out there who are selling stolen merchandise, so be aware,” she said.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Amy Phol contributed to this report.