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New York Post
07-05-2025
- New York Post
Desperate Kansas man arrested for stealing 800-pound cannon from Spanish American War to settle drug debt
This crook cannon even pull off a worthwhile theft. A low-level drug dealer stole an 800-pound cannon that was used in the Spanish American War from a Kansas park last week to settle a debt with his deranged boss, who was threatening to murder him and his family, authorities said. 4 The cannon was used in the Spanish-American War. Courtesy Historical Marker Database Advertisement Gordon Pierce, 38, was arrested Thursday after the 1794 cannon went missing from its podium in a Wichita park and was later discovered chopped into pieces. Pierce told investigators that he was a meth user of 20 years and owed his dealer $20,000 after the pound of meth he was supposed to sell was reportedly stolen. He said his dealer threatened to 'shoot him and his family' if he didn't come up with the cash, according to an affidavit acquired by KSNW. To repay the debt, the distressed drug user planned to sell copper from statues made of the material he could steal, he reportedly told cops. Advertisement Pierce allegedly hatched the crackpot plan to steal the cannon after driving around in desperation looking for copper statues when he came across Riverside Park, where the massive artifact had been a fixture since 1900, according to KAKE. He told investigators that the reason he targeted the cannon was because it was in a dark place, according to the affidavit. Pierce then recruited a homeless man to help him with his plan by bribing him with drugs and a pipe. The two men got high on meth before trying to use their own muscles to lift the 800-pound cannon, the document alleges. 4 Gordon Pierce III allegedly stole the cannon to settle a drug debt. 12 News Advertisement First, the pair tried to lift the cannon into the bed of Pierce's Chevrolet Tahoe, but it was too heavy. Next, they hooked up to a chain attached to the truck's hitch so the criminal mastermind could tow it off. Except when he began dragging through the streets, the chain snapped in front of an automotive shop, according to the affidavit. He abandoned the cannon there and fled to a friend's house and acquired a new chain. Pierce used the new chain to drag it to his friend's house where he hid it in his garage, according to the affidavit. 4 The alleged crime happened in Riverside Memorial Park in Wichita, Kan. 12 News Advertisement Inside the garage, Pierce allegedly chopped the cannon into five hunks and took some of the parts to the drug dealer in the hopes it would settle his debt and save his and his family's lives. But the drug dealer was irate, according to the records, and called Pierce 'stupid,' and told him he was going to 'bring heat to his house,' before yelling at him to 'get out.' Since he didn't have an ID that is required to sell scrap metal, Pierce had no real plan for pawning the 800-pound historical artifact, according to records. 4 The granite pedestal was damaged when the cannon was removed. KSN 3 The next time he saw him, the furious drug dealer allegedly told Pierce he was going to shoot him in the head, according to the court records. Terrified, Pierce went to his mother, confessed and fell asleep. When he woke up, cops were there to arrest him. 'This swift investigation shows our dedication to holding individuals responsible when they victimize our community,' police said in a statement. Advertisement Officials from Wichita's Parks and Recreation estimated that the cannon is worth more than $100,000, and that Pierce caused $10,000 worth of damage to the granite pedestal during his harebrained caper. Pierce is being held on a $200,000 bond.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Kansas man allegedly stole rare, historic 800-pound cannon from park for drug money: report
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways A Kansas man reportedly stole an 800-pound historic cannon from a local park for drug money, according to newly released court documents. An arrest affidavit, obtained by KAKE News, states that Gordon Pierce III, 37, told Wichita police officers that he believed his life was in danger after a drug dealer claimed that Pierce owed him money, leading him to steal the cannon for money. The report states that Pierce told police he went searching for copper statues to steal to make money to pay back the dealer and found the 800-pound cannon on the morning of April 2. Pierce allegedly told the officers he had been a meth user for 20 years and went to his drug dealer who gave him a pound of meth, but he was not comfortable with that amount because he would not be able to sell it. Mississippi Delivery Driver Accused Of Trying To Steal Retired Deputy's Order Newly released court documents shed light on why a rare Spanish-American War cannon was stolen from a Wichita park and cut into pieces last month. He told police that someone attacked him and stole the meth, but the dealer did not believe him and wanted $20,000 or "he would shoot him and his family." Read On The Fox News App Pierce told police he saw a homeless man at a nearby pavilion and offered the man meth and a pipe in exchange for helping him chain the cannon, the outlet reported. The homeless man agreed to help Pierce and then the two smoked meth together at the park before attempting to steal the cannon, the report reads. Due to the weight of the cannon, Pierce told police that he and the homeless man were unable to load the cannon into his Chevrolet Tahoe, according to the report. Pierce also told police he tried to pull the cannon with his SUV, but the chain kept snapping. Pierce then left the cannon and drove to a nearby friend's house to borrow a new chain, according to the report. His friend declined to help him move the cannon, but Pierce was able to drag it to his friend's house and store it inside his garage. Florida Man Offers Police Booze During Car Chase: 'Don't Know If He Was Expecting Us To Just Say 'Cheers'' Newly released court documents indicate that a Wichita man who stole an 800-pound historic cannon from a local park did so for drug money. Pierce reportedly told police that over the next several hours he used a Sawzall to cut the cannon into four to five pieces, which he placed in his Tahoe, leaving the largest piece of the cannon in his friend's garage. The affidavit states that Pierce told police he took the cannon pieces to his drug dealer to show him he was trying to get him the money he owed. But the drug dealer called Pierce "stupid," telling him he is going to "bring heat to his house" and to "get out." The drug dealer also reportedly told Pierce he was going to "shoot him in the head next time he saw him." Pierce told police the threat made him feel "helpless" and he went to his mother's house to explain what happened. Texas Man Calls 911 After Injuring Himself During Alleged Car Dealership Break-in He allegedly told police he chose the cannon because it was in a dark area; a detective said Pierce did not have a specific plan to sell the cannon pieces since he did not have an ID, which is typically required to sell scrap materials. Police said they followed indentations in the road that were allegedly caused by Pierce dragging the cannon to his friend's house, where he told officers where to find him. Officers allegedly found a clear baggie of a white crystal-like substance on Pierce during his arrest, which he told police was methamphetamine. He remains in the Sedgwick County Jail on charges of theft of property, aggravated criminal damage to property and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is set at $200,000. Pierce also waived his preliminary hearing and is set for arraignment on May 22. Historians told KSN the cannon is "irreplaceable." "This cannon was gifted to the City in 1900 and is a priceless fixture in our community," Wichita police said in an update on the department's Facebook page. "This swift investigation shows our dedication to holding individuals responsible when they victimize our community." Original article source: Kansas man allegedly stole rare, historic 800-pound cannon from park for drug money: report
Fox News
06-05-2025
- Fox News
Kansas man allegedly stole rare, historic 800-pound cannon from park for drug money: report
A Kansas man reportedly stole an 800-pound historic cannon from a local park for drug money, according to newly released court documents. An arrest affidavit, obtained by KAKE News, states that Gordon Pierce III, 37, told Wichita police officers that he believed his life was in danger after a drug dealer claimed that Pierce owed him money, leading him to steal the cannon for money. The report states that Pierce told police he went searching for copper statues to steal to make money to pay back the dealer and found the 800-pound cannon on the morning of April 2. Pierce allegedly told the officers he had been a meth user for 20 years and went to his drug dealer who gave him a pound of meth, but he was not comfortable with that amount because he would not be able to sell it. MISSISSIPPI DELIVERY DRIVER ACCUSED OF TRYING TO STEAL RETIRED DEPUTY'S ORDER He told police that someone attacked him and stole the meth, but the dealer did not believe him and wanted $20,000 or "he would shoot him and his family." Pierce told police he saw a homeless man at a nearby pavilion and offered the man meth and a pipe in exchange for helping him chain the cannon, the outlet reported. The homeless man agreed to help Pierce and then the two smoked meth together at the park before attempting to steal the cannon, the report reads. Due to the weight of the cannon, Pierce told police that he and the homeless man were unable to load the cannon into his Chevrolet Tahoe, according to the report. Pierce also told police he tried to pull the cannon with his SUV, but the chain kept snapping. Pierce then left the cannon and drove to a nearby friend's house to borrow a new chain, according to the report. His friend declined to help him move the cannon, but Pierce was able to drag it to his friend's house and store it inside his garage. FLORIDA MAN OFFERS POLICE BOOZE DURING CAR CHASE: 'DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS EXPECTING US TO JUST SAY 'CHEERS'' Pierce reportedly told police that over the next several hours he used a Sawzall to cut the cannon into four to five pieces, which he placed in his Tahoe, leaving the largest piece of the cannon in his friend's garage. The affidavit states that Pierce told police he took the cannon pieces to his drug dealer to show him he was trying to get him the money he owed. But the drug dealer called Pierce "stupid," telling him he is going to "bring heat to his house" and to "get out." The drug dealer also reportedly told Pierce he was going to "shoot him in the head next time he saw him." Pierce told police the threat made him feel "helpless" and he went to his mother's house to explain what happened. TEXAS MAN CALLS 911 AFTER INJURING HIMSELF DURING ALLEGED CAR DEALERSHIP BREAK-IN He allegedly told police he chose the cannon because it was in a dark area; a detective said Pierce did not have a specific plan to sell the cannon pieces since he did not have an ID, which is typically required to sell scrap materials. Police said they followed indentations in the road that were allegedly caused by Pierce dragging the cannon to his friend's house, where he told officers where to find him. Officers allegedly found a clear baggie of a white crystal-like substance on Pierce during his arrest, which he told police was methamphetamine. He remains in the Sedgwick County Jail on charges of theft of property, aggravated criminal damage to property and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is set at $200,000. Pierce also waived his preliminary hearing and is set for arraignment on May 22. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Historians told KSN the cannon is "irreplaceable." "This cannon was gifted to the City in 1900 and is a priceless fixture in our community," Wichita police said in an update on the department's Facebook page. "This swift investigation shows our dedication to holding individuals responsible when they victimize our community." Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Suspect in Wichita cannon theft said his life was in danger: affidavit
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A newly released court document sheds light on why a rare Spanish-American War cannon was stolen from a Wichita park and cut into pieces last month. Law enforcement officers who interviewed the alleged suspect, Gordon Pierce, 38, said he was afraid his drug dealer was going to kill him if he did not find a way to pay back $20,000. Pierce allegedly told the officers he had been a meth user for 20 years and went to his drug dealer who gave him a pound of meth. Pierce was not comfortable with that amount because he would not be able to sell it. He told the WPD that someone attacked him and stole the meth, but the dealer did not believe him and wanted $20,000 or 'he would shoot him and his family.' Woman sucker punched in downtown Wichita Pierce allegedly told the officers that it made him start looking for copper statues to steal to make money. While driving around, he noticed the cannon in Central Riverside Park. According to the court document, around 4 a.m. on April 2, Pierce got a homeless person to help put a chain around the top of the cannon, then used a Tahoe to pull it off its concrete pedestal. Pierce allegedly told officers that he and the homeless man tried to lift the cannon into the Tahoe, but it was too heavy, so he dragged it behind the vehicle. The chain snapped multiple times. According to the probable cause affidavit, Pierce went to a friend's house to get more chains and then dragged the cannon to the friend's house. The friend 'was freaking out about this, believing he was going to get in trouble,' Pierce told officers. The document says that Pierce borrowed the friend's tools, spent several hours cutting the cannon into four or five pieces, and took a couple of pieces to the drug dealer, 'to show that he was trying to pay for what he lost.' Cannon chopped into pieces, believed to have ties to President Roosevelt The dealer called Pierce 'stupid, telling him he is going to bring heat to his house.' According to the court document, the dealer told Pierce he was going to shoot him the next time he saw him. Pierce said it made him feel hopeless. He allegedly said he chose the cannon because it was in a dark area. The detective who wrote the affidavit said Pierce did not have a specific plan to sell the cannon pieces since he did not have an ID, which is typically required when someone wants to scrap metal. After his alleged meeting with the drug dealer, Pierce went to his mother's house and fell asleep. He woke when the police arrived. Police had followed gouges in the road to the friend's house, and the friend told police where they could find Pierce. Police arrested Pierce. He remains in the Sedgwick County Jail on charges of theft of property, aggravated criminal damage to property, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bail is set at $200,000. A city spokesperson said the 1794 cannon had been chopped into pieces. Historians have said the cannon is irreplaceable. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
