Man Arrested for Stealing 800-Lbs Cannon to Settle Drug Debt
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In a shocking turn of events, a man has been apprehended on charges of stealing an 800-pound historic cannon to resolve a $20,000 drug debt. The incident took place in Wichita, Kansas, where the cannon, described as an invaluable community asset and over a century old, went missing from a local park on April 3. Following swift investigations, the culprit was identified and arrested, as announced by the Wichita Police Department through a post on their official Facebook page. Despite the recovery of the cannon, it sustained significant damage during the theft.
37-year-old Gordon Pierce III was identified as the suspect in question, as per reports from Kake News and KSNW. Allegedly, Pierce confessed to pilfering the historic cannon from its location in a Wichita park. Originally gifted to the town in 1990, the cannon holds historical significance dating back to the Spanish-American War. Pierce claimed that his life was in grave danger after a pound of methamphetamine was stolen from him, resulting in a hefty debt to his drug dealer. Fearing for his safety and that of his family, Pierce resorted to extreme measures to settle the debt.
According to reports, Pierce, who admitted to a long-standing methamphetamine addiction spanning two decades, approached a homeless individual in the early hours of April 2 for assistance in removing the cannon from its stand in Central Riverside Park. Subsequently, he dismantled the cannon into several pieces and attempted to present them to his drug dealer as a form of repayment. However, his efforts were met with disapproval, with the dealer expressing concerns about potential repercussions.
As the saga unfolded, Pierce’s acquaintance alerted the authorities about the stolen cannon, leading to Pierce’s arrest. Upon apprehension, Pierce was found in possession of a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine. Currently, he is detained at the Sedgwick County Jail on a $200,000 bond, facing charges of theft of property, aggravated criminal damage to property, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His court arraignment is scheduled for May 22.
The cannon, an integral part of Wichita’s Spanish-American War Memorial, holds an estimated value exceeding $100,000. In addition to the theft itself, Pierce caused substantial damage to the cannon’s base amounting to approximately $10,000. Acknowledging the swift action of law enforcement in resolving the crime, a representative from the Wichita Police Department commended the collaborative efforts of patrol officers, the Property Crime Reduction Task Force, and investigators involved in the case.
Efforts to reach out to the Sedgwick County Sheriff and the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office for further insights on the incident remain ongoing. The consequences of Pierce’s actions extend beyond mere theft, shedding light on the detrimental impact of substance abuse and its associated risks. As the legal proceedings unfold, the community awaits further developments in this unprecedented case of theft driven by drug-related debts.