SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused of stealing and destroying a Jackie Robinson statue from a Wichita park is due back in court Thursday afternoon.
Ricky Alderete, 45, is scheduled for an arraignment hearing in the case, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
Alderete is charged with Felony Theft – Value over $25,000, Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property, Identity Theft and Making False Information, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses. Alderete has previous convictions for theft and burglary in Sumner County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He is being held on $150,000 bond.
Alerete was in custody after an arrest on February 1, for a probation violation, burglary, kidnapping and criminal damage to property unrelated to the theft of the statue, according to online jail records.
Wichita police detectives conducted over 100 interviews both within and outside Sedgwick County to resolve the case.
On January 28, officers from the Wichita Police Department Field Community Response Team located a suspect vehicle used in the theft, unoccupied, at an apartment complex in Wichita.
On January 30, the Wichita Fire Department discovered parts of the statue in a trash can at Garvey Park while responding to a fire call.
The investigation has not revealed any evidence indicating that this was a hate-motivated crime, instead, police believe this theft was motivated by the financial gain of scrapping common metal, according to Moses. Police detectives remain committed to gathering information to identify and charge all individuals involved in the theft and destruction of the statue.
Alderete has been the only suspect apprehended in the statue’s destruction. His arraignment is now set for May 9 at 1:15 p.m.