A man has been charged for stealing a Jackie Robinson statue to sell for scrap metal, Kansas police say.
Ricky Alderete was charged on Monday for the theft of the bronze statue, per aWichita Police Department Facebook announcement. On Jan. 25, police received reports that the statue wascut off at the ankles. It was found days later smoking in a trash can.
Alderete, 45, was first taken into custody at the start of the month on a warrant for his arrest in an unrelated kidnapping case, reports theAssociated Press.
Alderete was charged with four counts — including felony theft (value over $25,000) and aggravated criminal damage to property, per the WPD. He was additionally charged with two more counts — identity theft and making false information — stemming from a 2022 pawn ticket incident. He is being held on $150,000 bond, reports the Associated Press.
Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP
During a Tuesdaypress conference, WPD Chief Joe Sullivan said Alderete’s arrest was “only the first arrest,” and more are expected to come. He added that the investigation is ongoing and the department has interviewed over 100 people.
Mugshot of Ricky Alderete.Wichita Police Department
Wichita Police Department
“Our detectives remain committed to gathering information to identify and charge all individuals involved in the theft and destruction of the Jackie Robinson statue,” read the WPD statement.
Jackie Robinson Statue in Kansas.League 42 Foundation/X
League 42 Foundation/X
On Jan. 25, the WPD received a call about the theft at McAdams Park. The Property Crimes investigators then began interviewing suspects and searching for video evidence. Three days later, “the Wichita Police Department Field Community Response Team located the suspect vehicle used in the theft, unoccupied, at an apartment complex in Wichita,” per the WPD Facebook statement.
Then, on Jan. 30, the Wichita Fire Department discovered remnants of the statue burned beyond repair when they responded to a reported trash can fire at a park.
Bronze statue of legendary baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson was stolen from a park in Wichita, Kan., during the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP
The fundraiser, which closed on Feb. 5, raised over $190,000.
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However,Major League Baseball and its 30 clubsannounced it will replace the league’s statue.
The remaining donations will be distributed towards the “organization and operations for our 600-plus kids, 46 teams, and our four education programs that are offered free of charge,” per the GoFundMe update from Lutz.
source: people.com
