Sconiers Is Released After Being in ‘Wrong Place,’ Pomona Police Say

Daryl Sconiers, formerly of the Angels, was released by Pomona police Tuesday because there was not enough evidence to link him to a robbery of a gasoline station, officials said.

Sconiers, 29, now a minor league infielder for the Chicago White Sox, had been arrested for investigation of robbery at 7:30 p.m. Monday near the station where the holdup occurred, said Sgt. Gary Elofson. Sconiers had been jailed in lieu of $16,000 bail. Lt. Roby Stephens said Sconiers was released at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

“Basically, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Stephens said.

Sconiers was outside the station, according to station employees, when two youths threatened workers with a gun and took about $150, Elofson said. Sconiers lives a half block from the station.

“He was in the area of the robbery when the juveniles were arrested. But there has since been more clarification on the identity of those doing the robbery,” Stephens said.

Two Pomona boys, ages 16 and 17, were held by juvenile authorities for investigation of robbery. Witnesses identified the youths at the scene as the ones who carried out the robbery, Elofson said. Their names were withheld because of their ages.

One youth was also charged with possession of a gun used in the holdup and possession of cocaine for sale.

Sconiers, who was with the Angels from 1981 through 1985, was carrying baseball cards with his picture when arrested, Elofson said, adding that a positive identification had been made.

Sconiers has signed to play with the White Sox Triple-A team in Vancouver for the 1988 season, a team official said.

“We received word that Sconiers had been released by the Pomona Police Department due to insufficient evidence, and they felt that he was completely innocent,” Dan Evans, White Sox player personnel administrator, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

“When he was arrested it was because he was in the area,” Evans said. “It looks like everything’s worked out well for him.”

Sconiers, a left-handed hitting first baseman who had an admitted “substance problem” while with the Angels, was once regarded as one of baseball’s most promising young hitters.

Sconiers was playing for the San Jose Bees when he was signed at midseason last summer by the White Sox to a minor league contract. Sent to Hawaii, Sconiers hit .305 in 40 games.