A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the theft of several boxes of high-value sneakers from the front porch of NBA legend and current University of Memphis head coach, Anfernee Penny Hardaway.
The incident occurred on August 8th in East Memphis, where police responded to reports of a porch pirate making off with packages. According to WREG 3 News in Memphis, video footage captured the suspect pushing a shopping cart filled with boxes down the street. Those boxes, taken from Hardaway’s porch, contained 26 pairs of rare sneakers, including “one-of-a-kind” Foamposites and a “family and friend exclusive” edition that are not available in stores.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Ronald James, was arrested and charged with theft of property. Memphis police spokesman Officer Joseph Hibler confirmed the arrest to ESPN, noting that the police had recently released photos of the suspect online, urging the public to assist in identifying him. While Hibler did not specify if a tip led to James’s capture, the arrest was first reported by ESPN’s Myron Medcalf.
Foamposite shoes, which Penny Hardaway famously wore during his time with the Orlando Magic, remain highly sought after by sneaker enthusiasts. However, police have not yet disclosed whether the stolen merchandise has been recovered or if it will be returned to Hardaway.
As of now, no bond has been set for Ronald James, and a court date has not yet been scheduled, according to the latest reports.
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