This strange theft might seem a bit outrageous.
A low-level drug dealer, Gordon Pierce, aged 38, found himself in a precarious situation. After settling some serious debts with a volatile boss who threatened his life—and that of his family—he resorted to stealing an 800-pound cannon from a Kansas park, all tied to the history of the Spanish-American War.
Pierce was arrested on Thursday following the disappearance of a cannon from Wichita Park, which was later discovered chopped into pieces.
In his conversation with investigators, he mentioned being a long-time drug user and owing $20,000 to his dealer, explaining that the methane he was meant to sell had mysteriously vanished. He claimed threats on his life were made, stating his dealer would “shoot him and his family.”
In an effort to repay his debts, he concocted a plan to sell copper from stolen statues.
All of this came to a head when he, in search of copper, stumbled upon Riverside Park, home to the cannon, which had been displayed since 1900.
He reportedly chose that particular cannon because it was situated in a dark spot, according to the affidavit. To execute his plan, he enlisted the help of a homeless man who was also using drugs, and they claimed to be in high spirits, or at least high on meth, as they attempted to lift the cannon.
Initially, they tried to hoist it onto the back of a Chevrolet Tahoe, but it proved too heavy. So, they linked it to a chain connected to the truck, hoping to tow it away. However, the chain broke as they dragged the cannon down the street.
Pierce abandoned the cannon and ran to a friend’s house to retrieve a sturdier chain. After that, they managed to drag the cannon to the garage, where Pierce is said to have cut it into five pieces, hoping it would help clear his debts and keep his family safe.
But things didn’t go as planned. The dealer grew furious upon discovering what happened and even called Pierce “silly” for his actions.
Pierce lacked the necessary identification to sell the stolen metal, and records indicate he had no legitimate strategy for offloading this historic artifact.
Court documents later revealed that the dealer had threatened Pierce with violence over the failed deal. Out of fear, Pierce sought his mother’s counsel before eventually falling asleep, only to wake up to officers ready to arrest him.
The police stated, “This rapid investigation shows our commitment to holding individuals accountable when they sacrifice our community.”
Parks and Recreational Officials in Wichita assessed the cannon’s value at over $100,000, estimating that Pierce also caused around $10,000 worth of damage to the granite pedestal it once stood on.
Pierce is currently held on a $200,000 bond.
