In a shocking incident that has left the community devastated, a statue of baseball legend Jackie Robinson was stolen from a youth baseball park in Wichita, Kansas.
The theft occurred just days before the commencement of Black History Month, with the thieves leaving behind only the bronze shoes of the statue.
Wichita Police Department revealed on Thursday that the unidentified culprits sawed off the statue just above Robinson's shoes and made off with the rest of the iconic player's likeness. The incident took place around midnight at McAdams Park, a popular gathering spot for local families and children.
"Our community is devastated," the police department stated, expressing their frustration over the audacious act. The theft was reported by ABC news, which confirmed that the crime took place around midnight on Thursday.
Wichita's Chief of Police, Joe Sullivan, expressed his outrage during a press conference on Friday. "I'm frustrated by the actions of those individuals who had the audacity to take the statue of Jackie Robinson from a park where kids and families and our community gather to learn the history of Jackie Robinson, an American icon, and play the game of baseball. This should upset all of us," he said.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Sullivan noted, "What troubles me even more is that the theft occurred just before the beginning of February, which marks the start of Black History Month."
The police have released surveillance footage of the incident, which shows the suspects entering the Jackie Robinson Pavilion, removing the statue, and loading it onto a pickup truck.
The city of Wichita estimates the total damages to be approximately $75,000. In response to the incident, the Wichita Metro Crime Commission announced during the press conference that it is offering up to $7,500 for information related to the incident. This includes a $2,500 reward for tips leading to arrests and a separate reward of up to $5,000 for tips that lead to finding the statue.
Jackie Robinson, a trailblazer in the world of baseball, was the first player of color to play in the Major Leagues during the modern era. Despite facing racial taunts from fans and other teams, Robinson showed remarkable restraint and went on to have a successful career.
He played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro leagues and the minor league Montreal Royals before being signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Robinson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his achievements on and off the field.
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