Stolen Jackie Robinson statue discovered burned in trash can

Hearth crews discovered the burned remnants Tuesday of a prized bronze statue of Jackie Robinson that was stolen final week from a public park in Kansas, authorities mentioned.

The Wichita fireplace division obtained a name round 8:40 a.m. a few trash can on fireplace at Garvey Park within the southern a part of the town and found what gave the impression to be items of the statue, in accordance with police spokesperson Andrew Ford. At a information convention Tuesday, he described it as “not salvageable.”

The statue, which was lower on the determine’s ankles, went lacking Thursday morning. It honors the primary participant to interrupt Main League Baseball’s colour barrier in 1947.

“If it seems it was racially motivated, then clearly that may be a deeper societal concern and it definitely would make this a way more regarding theft,” mentioned Bob Lutz, Government Director of the Little League nonprofit that commissioned the sculpture. “We’ll wait and see what this seems to be.”

League 42, which is called after Robinson’s Dodgers quantity, paid about $50,000 for the mannequin, which was put in in 2021 in McAdams Park, the place roughly 600 youngsters play within the youth baseball league. It additionally presents instructional packages.

The police spokesperson mentioned that with help from arson investigators, they’ve performed greater than 100 interviews. Surveillance video reveals two individuals hauling the sculpture away at midnight, to a truck that was later discovered deserted.

“Sure, it is actually disheartening to see the remnants of the statue and the disgraceful method through which it has been disrespected,” Wichita police Chief Joe Sullivan mentioned, describing the invention of it as a “direct indication of the strain” the perpetrators felt from the continued investigation.

He mentioned police are conferring with the prosecutor’s workplace regularly.

“There shall be arrests, however we’ll ensure that after we do, we may have a stable case,” he mentioned, including that for anybody concerned within the theft “it’s only a matter of time.”

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

Lutz, the nonprofit director, mentioned there shall be a brand new statue put in that may look precisely just like the outdated one, which was made by his buddy, the artist John Parsons, earlier than his loss of life. He mentioned the mould remains to be viable and anticipated {that a} alternative may very well be erected inside a matter of months.

“I am attempting to maintain it collectively,” he mentioned, including: “The statue that reappears at McAdams Park would be the work of John Parsons.” He burdened that “we’re prepared for some pleasure.”

The theft was found shortly earlier than Black Historical past Month. However Lutz mentioned in an interview after the information convention that he was hopeful the motive wasn’t racial, however that the thieves simply noticed the bronze as monetarily precious.

Council Member Brandon Johnson described the statue as a “image of hope” and mentioned donations for the alternative are coming from native companies and thru a web based fundraiser.

“This now lets us know that we want a brand new statue,” he mentioned of the destroyed stays. “We’re now not in search of a whole intact statue. We all know we have to increase the cash to interchange it, and we are going to accomplish that.”