The charred remains of a stolen bronze statue of Jackie Robinson were found Tuesday in a trash can at a Kansas park, authorities said.
Pieces of the statue were thrown into the trash and set on fire in Garvey Park in Wichita, a police spokesman said during a news conference broadcast by KWCH.
Fire crews were called to the scene around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday and made the discovery after extinguishing the trash can fire.
“This is a heartbreaking discovery this morning,” Wichita Councilman Brandon Johnson said during the news conference. “I hate to see the statue not in one piece, but I want everyone to know that we are not complicit in making sure the statue is rebuilt and put back up there.”
Most of the statue went missing last Thursday night after it was cut by the ankle at the League 42 baseball field at McAdams Park, which also houses the Jackie Robinson Pavilion.
Firefighters made the discovery of the Jackie Robinson statue after putting out a trash can fire. Wichita Police Department/Facebook
The prized figure honors the first Major League Baseball player to break the color barrier in 1947 when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
No arrests were made.
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said the burning of the effigy was a direct response to investigators’ pressure on the thieves.
Surveillance footage shows a silver pickup truck in which the suspect loaded the statue. Wichita Police Department/Facebook
More than 100 interviews have been conducted and police are collecting various doorbell recordings.
“So for those involved in any way in this matter… it’s only a matter of time and it’s in your best interest to turn yourself in, come forward, admit your part in this… but either way we’re going to catch some people because of what they’ve done to our community,” Sullivan said.
Surveillance footage shows at least two people taking down the statue and loading it into a silver pickup truck.
No arrests have been made so far, as police are collecting various doorbell recordings to catch the suspect. AP Bob Lutz, executive director of League 42, a youth baseball league in Wichita, Kan., walks past the charred remains of a trash can where pieces of a stolen Jackie Robinson statue were found by Wichita police on Jan. 30, 2024. AP
Before Tuesday’s disappointing discovery, officials offered the thief the chance to return the statue “no questions asked.”
Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962 – the first black player to punch his ticket to Cooperstown. The speedy infielder, who has a career .313 MLB batting average, started his career with the Kansas City Monarchs as part of the Negro Leagues before signing with Brooklyn.
Every year, MLB honors the civil rights icon when every player wears Robinson’s jersey number – 42.
Funds are being raised by League 42, named after Robinson, to replace the sculpture, said nonprofit executive director Bob Lutz. So far, nearly $80,000 has been raised through the GoFundMe page.
Lutz said after a week of grief, the community is “ready for some joy.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
