'Mystery' good Samaritan returns national championship ring

LAKEWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- An unknown person dropped off a Major League Baseball National Championship ring that belonged to a former San Diego Padres player.

Lakewood police said the mysterious good Samaritan left the ring Sunday at the front counter of the city's sheriff's station before deputies were able to contact him or her.

Investigators conducted a search and determined that former MLB player Christopher Gomez was the rightful owner.

Detective Theo Gekas located Gomez and after positively identifying the ring, it was returned to him. Police said he was extremely happy to have it back.

Gomez realized his ring was missing a couple of weeks ago, but the circumstances of the ring's disappearance were unknown to him, officials said.

The former Lakewood resident grew up playing baseball at Lakewood High School, and was drafted to the major leagues in 1992 by the Detroit Tigers. In 1998, he played in the World Series for the San Diego Padres, who were the National League Champions that year.

Gomez told police he also had two additional rings missing. They were a 1987 Lakewood High School baseball championship ring, and a 1990 Loyola Marymount College championship ring.

Officials said he is hopeful his other two rings will be returned to him.

Anyone with information regarding these rings is urged to contact Detective Gekas at Lakewood Sheriff's Station at (562) 623-3657.