A Phoenix pawn shop employee recognized two men from police photographs as they allegedly attempted to sell shoes stolen from a storage unit belonging to former Major League Baseball player Daniel Johnson. The tip helped detectives make two arrests in a burglary involving approximately $93,000 worth of belongings.
Phoenix police identified the arrested men as Daniel Jacob Thompson, 48, and Michael Charles Hummel, 30, according to Arizona’s Family. Both were arrested Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, one day after investigators publicly circulated surveillance photographs asking for help identifying two suspects.
Johnson and his fiancée, Alison Wysong, had stored their possessions while their home was being remodeled. The stolen property included designer purses, collectible sneakers, laptop computers and baseball equipment Johnson had accumulated during his professional career.
Detectives subsequently recovered several items during a search of a residence associated with the suspects. Police also believe other storage units were targeted.
Surveillance Images Show Two Men at Phoenix Storage Facility
The burglary occurred Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at a storage facility near 4400 North 24th Street, close to Campbell Avenue. According to the Silent Witness bulletin, investigators placed the crime between 3:06 p.m. and 10:22 p.m. The bulletin identifies the incident under media case number 2026-4594.
Security images captured two men moving through the facility. One was described as wearing a black shirt and gray baseball cap, while the other wore a black shirt and carried a backpack. Investigators released the photographs on Oct. 8, along with a public appeal for information.
Daniel Johnson Says Missing Baseball Gear Cannot Easily Be Replaced
Johnson told ABC15 that his missing collection included shirts, hoodies, jackets, shorts, batting gloves and hats from different stages of his playing career. The clothing and equipment had accumulated over more than a decade around professional baseball.
His MLB record includes time with Cleveland, Baltimore, San Francisco and Houston. Some of the missing equipment had been issued by those organizations, making it difficult to replace through ordinary purchases.
Speaking with FOX 10, Johnson explained that replacing everyday possessions was possible, but recreating a collection of team-issued gear would require opportunities he might never have again.
The losses also affected his charitable plans. Johnson said some of the apparel was intended for children participating in programs associated with his God Family Ball Foundation. Other items had been saved for his own children, adding personal significance beyond their reported monetary value.
Pawn Shop Employee Recognizes Men From Police Flyer
The investigation advanced on Oct. 9 when two men allegedly tried to sell a pair of shoes at a Phoenix pawn shop. An employee recognized them from the surveillance photographs police had circulated the previous day and contacted authorities, Phoenix Police Sgt. Sheree Lee told FOX 10.
FOX 10 reported that Thompson and Hummel appeared in court following their arrests and faced multiple felony allegations. Both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Search Warrant Leads Police to Baseball Gear Bearing Johnson’s Name
After identifying the suspects, detectives obtained a search warrant for a residence associated with them. Officers recovered footwear, laptop computers and apparel believed to have come from the burglarized storage unit.
Lee told FOX 10 that some of the recovered baseball clothing carried Johnson’s name and jersey number. Those identifying markings helped connect the items to property reported missing from the unit. Investigators were still inventorying the recovered belongings when the arrests were announced.
Detectives Believe Other Storage Units Were Targeted
Police said the burglary did not appear to have been directed specifically at Johnson. According to Lee, the people involved went through the storage facility breaking locks and looking inside individual units before encountering one containing especially valuable belongings.
ABC15 also reported that managers associated with storage facilities recognized the suspects as individuals linked to another burglary at a different Phoenix location. That report raises the possibility of additional victims, although the specific charges or losses associated with the other facility have not been independently established.
Wysong told FOX 10 that she hoped the arrests would help other people recover their property as well. She expressed concern that the suspected activity had affected more than just her and Johnson.
Anyone who believes they were affected by a related burglary can contact Phoenix police at 602-262-6151. Information may also be submitted anonymously through Silent Witness at 480-948-6377.
How to Protect Valuable Collections in Storage Units
People storing collectibles, sports memorabilia or expensive electronics should evaluate a facility’s access controls, cameras and individual-unit security before moving their belongings. The Insurance Information Institute recommends checking whether homeowners or renters insurance provides coverage for property kept away from the primary residence.
Standard insurance policies may impose separate limits on items stored off-site or on valuable collections. Owners should ask their insurer about additional coverage for memorabilia, designer accessories, rare footwear and other belongings that may be difficult to replace.
Photographs, serial numbers, inventory records and proof of purchase can help document ownership and value. If a storage unit is burglarized, owners should notify police and facility management promptly and request that surveillance recordings be preserved. Suspected stolen property advertised for resale should be reported to investigators rather than recovered through a personal confrontation.