Man Arrested for Stealing Jackie Robinson Statue; Police Claim No Hate Crime Involved, Reports Reuters

A 45-year-old man has been charged in connection with the theft of a statue depicting pioneering baseball player Jackie Robinson, according to police reports. Authorities believe that the theft was driven not by hate but by a desire for financial gain.

The life-size bronze statue of Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947 as the first Black player, was stolen from a park in Wichita, Kansas, in January. Remnants of the statue were found later, burned and disposed of in a trash can.

“The investigation has shown no signs that this was a hate-motivated crime. We believe the motive behind the theft was the financial incentive of scrapping the metal,” stated the Wichita Police Department in a release. They emphasized that detectives are actively working to identify and charge all those involved in the theft and destruction of the statue.

The suspect, currently in custody, was charged on Monday with several offenses, including felony theft and aggravated criminal damage to property.

The statue, which celebrated Robinson’s historic achievement in baseball, was reportedly cut off at the ankles and taken away in a truck. Firefighters later discovered pieces of the statue that were beyond repair while responding to a fire report.

After playing for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro League, Robinson made history by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers as the first Black player in Major League Baseball. He is well-remembered for his resilience in the face of racial prejudice during a time of deep segregation. Robinson was a six-time All-Star and played a key role in the Dodgers’ 1955 World Series victory, the first in the team’s history.

Following his baseball career, Robinson became a prominent figure in the U.S. civil rights movement. He passed away in 1972 and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal for his contributions to society.