Roughly three weeks ago, cowardly thieves stole a statue of Jackie Robinson from a park in Wichita, KS and then destroyed it by burning it in a garbage can days later.
But on Tuesday, police announced they had apprehended a suspect in the theft and destruction of the $50,000 statue depicting the legendary Robinson.
45-year-old Ricky Alderete was arrested and charged with felony theft, aggravated criminal damage to property, identity theft and making false information.
“The investigation has not revealed any evidence indicating that this was a hate-motivated crime,” said Aaron Moses of the Wichita Police Department. “We believe this theft was motivated by the financial gain of scrapping common metal.”
The community, fans and the general baseball community across the country were furious over the incident which caused $75,000 in damages after it was cut from its base in the Jackie Robinson Pavilion in McAdams Park, where it was first erected in 2021.
“We’re feeling good that someone is being held responsible, and I do believe that all individuals involved will be apprehended,” said Bob Lutz, the executive director of the nonprofit League 42 Foundation which commissioned the statue and runs the youth baseball league that serves roughly 600 children in the area.
Based on surveillance video, three suspects were involved in the crime, so two still remain at large.
After news spread about the theft and destruction of the statue, close to $300,000 in donations poured in to build a new statue. But then MLB and its clubs stepped in and agreed to pay for everything.
Through league, team and individual support, a new statute should be completed by the middle of the summer using the original mold that was used to create the statue.
Once it’s finished, everyone will be able to learn about and celebrate the life of the great Jackie Robinson through a statue that symbolizes all that he represented, endured and accomplished.
