Arrest Made in Theft and Destruction of Jackie Robinson Statue

The theft, motivated by financial gain, has sparked a community and MLB response, raising funds for a replacement.

A 45-year-old man, Ricky Alderete, was arrested and charged with the theft and destruction of a Jackie Robinson statue in Wichita, Kansas.
The theft was not considered a hate crime but was motivated by the financial gain of selling the metal for scrap.
The stolen statue, valued at $75,000, was cut at the ankles and later found burned and dismantled.
League 42, a youth baseball league, and MLB teams have raised nearly $300,000 for a replacement statue.
The original artist's mold is still viable, allowing for an exact replica to be created within months.