The Wichita Police Department announced on Tuesday that an arrest has been made in connection with the theft of the Jackie Robinson statue that occurred nearly three weeks ago. Ricky Alderete, 45, has been charged with felony theft (value over $25,000), aggravated criminal damage to property, identity theft, and making false information.

The stolen statue, valued at $75,000, was taken from McAdams Park, the home of League 42, a youth baseball league with around 600 children. The statue was commissioned and erected in 2021 to honor the legacy of Jackie Robinson.

Authorities confirmed that the investigation did not uncover any evidence suggesting a hate crime motive. Instead, they believe the theft was driven by the desire for financial gain through scrapping common metal.

The statue, which was made primarily of copper, was found dismantled, with only the bronze replicas of Robinson's cleats remaining on the pedestal. Tony Workman, the general manager of Art Castings of Colorado, the company responsible for creating the original statue, confirmed that it was made up of 95% copper.

While Alderete has been taken into custody, the police remain committed to identifying all individuals involved in the crime. Surveillance footage released shortly after the statue was reported missing on January 25 revealed the presence of at least three individuals during the theft.

Further progress in the investigation occurred when a vehicle connected to the case was recovered by the police on January 28 at an apartment complex in Wichita. Additionally, fire crews discovered remnants of the burned statue while responding to a trash can fire in another park about 7 miles away, two days later.

In response to the incident, generous donations approached a total of $300,000. Although the original artist has passed away, the original mold of the statue still exists. Art Castings of Colorado will utilize the mold to rebuild a new statue, with completion expected by the middle of the summer.

The theft of the Jackie Robinson statue deeply impacted the Wichita community, particularly League 42 and the children it serves. However, the arrest and the ongoing investigation offer hope that justice will be served, and the beloved statue will be restored to its rightful place in McAdams Park.