The charred remains of a stolen Jackie Robinson statue were found inside a dumpster at a Kansas park Tuesday, authorities said.
Fragments of the statue were dumped in the garbage and set on fire at Wichita’s Garvey Park, a police spokesperson said. The press conference was streamed by KWCH.
Firefighters were called to the scene around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday and made the discovery after extinguishing the fire in a dumpster.
“This was a heartbreaking discovery this morning,” Wichita City Councilman Brandon Johnson said at a news conference. “We don’t want to see this statue not being whole, but we want everyone to know that we are unflinchingly committed to making sure that statue is rebuilt and put back there. .”
Most of the statue was severed at the ankle and disappeared last Thursday night at League 42 Baseball Stadium at McAdams Park, which is also home to the Jackie Robinson Pavilion.
This rare figurine honors Major League Baseball’s first player to break the color barrier when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
No arrests have been made.
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said the statue burning was a direct response to the pressure law enforcement is putting on the thieves.
More than 100 interviews have been conducted, and police are collecting various doorbell footage.
“So for those who are involved in this matter in any way…it’s only a matter of time and it would be in their best interest to simply turn themselves in, come forward and acknowledge their role in this…but , we’re going to do it anyway,’ arresting several people for what they’ve done to our community,” Sullivan said.
Surveillance camera footage showed at least two people pulling down the statue and loading it into a silver pickup truck.
Before Tuesday’s shocking discovery, authorities offered the thieves a chance to return the statue “no questions asked.”
Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962, becoming the first black player to punch a ticket to Cooperstown. The speedy infielder, who boasts a career MLB batting average of .313, began his career with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues before signing with Brooklyn.
Each year, MLB honors the civil rights icon by having all players wear Robinson’s number 42.
League 42, named in Robinson’s honor, is raising funds to replace the sculpture, said Bob Lutz, the nonprofit’s executive director. So far, about $80,000 has been raised through the GoFundMe page.
Lutz said after a week of sadness, the community is “ready for joy.”
