45-year-old Man Arrested In Jackie Robinson Statue Theft That Was Not Motivated By Race, Police Say – News18

Police introduced Tuesday the arrest of a 45-year-old man within the theft of a bronze Jackie Robinson statue that later was discovered dismantled and burned.

Wichita police Lt. Aaron Moses stated the person was taken into custody earlier in an unrelated case and charged Monday with a number of counts, together with aggravated legal harm to property. Moses stated he was “very confident it was not a race-related crime.” He stated the motive seemed to be monetary.

Thieves minimize the bronze statue from its base final month at a park in Wichita, Kansas. Only the statue’s ft had been left at McAdams Park, the place about 600 youngsters play in a youth baseball league referred to as League 42, which is called after Robinson’ s uniform quantity with the Brooklyn Dodgers, with whom he broke the foremost leagues’ colour barrier in 1947.

Fire crews discovered burned remnants of the statue 5 days later whereas responding to a trash can fireplace at one other park about 7 miles (11.27 kilometers) away. A truck believed for use within the theft beforehand was discovered deserted, and police stated the theft of the statue, which had an estimated worth of $75,000, was captured on surveillance video.

Donations poured in, approaching $300,000, stated Bob Lutz, govt director of the Little League nonprofit that commissioned the sculpture.

Lutz has stated that among the extra cash raised additionally might improve a few of its programming and amenities. In April, the group opened the Leslie Rudd Learning Center, which incorporates an indoor baseball facility and a studying lab.

Lutz, whose good friend, the artist John Parsons, made the statue earlier than his demise, stated the mould continues to be viable and anticipated {that a} substitute may be erected inside a matter of months.

Robinson performed for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues earlier than becoming a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, paving the best way for generations of Black American ballplayers. He’s thought-about not solely a sports activities legend but in addition a civil rights icon. Robinson died in 1972.

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)