Arrest Made in Theft and Destruction of Jackie Robinson Statue

A 45-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the theft of a bronze Jackie Robinson statue in Wichita, Kansas, which was later found dismantled and burned. The suspect, Ricky Alderete, faces charges related to the theft and a 2022 case, with police stating that the motive was to sell the metal for scrap. The statue, located at a park where children play in a youth baseball league, was cut from its base, and the burned remnants were discovered in a trash can at another park. Donations have poured in for a replacement statue, and the artist's friend anticipates that a new one can be erected within months.