Midwest
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
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. (Sedgwick County Jail/KAKE News)
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.
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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. (KAKE News)
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.
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The Wichita Police Department said several weapons were recovered from the scene. (Wichita Police Department)
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.”
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 stepheny.price@fox.com
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Missouri
Missing 13-Year-Old Rural Salem Girl Found Unharmed in Missouri, Investigation Is Continuing (updated 11:45 pm Friday)
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps says missing 13-year-old Hope L. Ballard of rural Salem has been found safe in Branson, Missouri.
Detectives from the sheriff’s department will question a person of interest in the case to learn more about what happened.
Cripps says they used technology, with assistance from other police agencies, to determine where the girl may be located. Ballard had left her home in the early morning hours of April 30th and is believed to have departed voluntarily. The sheriff’s department was notified at 8:20 Friday night that she had been found safe.
Ballard was considered an Endangered Missing Person, and at the request of the sheriff’s department, the State of Illinois issued an Endangered Missing Person Advisory.
The girl’s family is now on their way to Missouri to pick her up.
Cripps is thanking all law enforcement agencies involved for their help.
Photo of 13-year-old Hope Ballard, who has been reported missing.
The Nebraska softball team (40-6, 20-1) will hit the road and face the Penn State Nittany Lions (32-17, 11-10) this week to wrap up the final regular-season series of the season. The Huskers are ranked No. 3 in the NFCA Poll. NU is also No. 2 by Softball America, USA Softball and D1 Softball.
The Huskers are led by two-way star Jordy Frahm and Hannah Camenzind. Frahm is hitting .423 at the plate on the season with a 15-4 record with nine saves in the pitcher’s circle. Camenzind is hitting .408 and has a record in the pitcher’s circle of 5-0 with a 1.40 ERA.
The Big Ten Tournament will take place May 6-9 in College Park, MD.
Here’s how to watch the Nebraska-Penn State doubleheaders today, including time, TV schedule, and streaming information:
What channel is Nebraska-Penn State on today?
TV Channel: Game one: N/A Game two: BTN
Livestream: Game one: B1G+ Game two: Fubo (free trial)
Nebraska vs Penn State will wrap up the final regular-season series of the year on the Big Ten Network on Saturday afternoon. Streaming options for the game include B1G+ and FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Nebraska-Penn State Softball time today
- Date: Saturday, May 2 (doubleheaders)
- Start time: 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. CT
The Nebraska-Penn State softball doubleheader starts at 10 a.m. CT and 1:30 p.m. CT from Nittany Lion Softball Park in State College, PA.
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Submitted Photo
U.S. Air Force veteran Jim Clifford of Minot is shown with the Lincoln Memorial in the background during his trip to the Washington, D.C., area with the Western North Dakota Honor Flight.
U.S. Air Force veteran Jim Clifford of Minot said his recent trip to the Washington, D.C., area with the Western North Dakota Honor Flight was a memorable one.
“The honor is so great,” he said.
Clifford was among more than 100 veterans on the trip from Bismarck, Sunday, April 26, and returning, Monday, April 27. Besides Clifford, several other Minot veterans made the trip.
He said he was very impressed with the N.D. Western Honor Flight organization and the coordination of the trip.
“The coordination is unbelievable. We had a police escort from our hotel room in Arlington, Virginia, to the Capitol. It was right at rush hour,” he said. He said the group of veterans traveled in four buses.
When they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport, people with signs were standing to the side to greet them.
“It was just unbelievable,” he said. When they left the Bismarck airport, he said, the lobby there was full of people. He said Bismarck comes out really well for the veterans going on these trips and it was the same when the Western N.D. Honor Flight was out of Minot for the first time in April 2025.
Clifford was active duty in the Air Force from 1971-75. For 10 months he served in Taiwan but his Air Force time before and after was at Minot Air Force Base with the fire department.
“My first fire chief was Ken Gillespie,” he said. Gillespie’s son, Ken Gillespie aka Dizzy the Clown, is well known in the Minot area.
After discharge from the Air Force, Clifford continued civil service with the base fire department from 1976-2008, retiring as fire chief.
During the Honor Flight trip, Clifford said, they visited many highlights — veterans’ memorials including World War II, Korean and Vietnam, the U.S. Capitol and the Dulles Air and Space Museum. Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, R-ND, and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum met with the group during their visit.
The veterans also visited Arlington National Cemetery.
“We got to see the Changing of the Guard and see them laying two wreaths,” he said.
At a banquet held that night for the veterans at their hotel, the Hyatt Regency in Arlington, he said the sentinel, the lead person for the Changing of the Guard, spoke to them.
“It was a very worthwhile trip. If you’re a veteran, you need to sign up for it,” Clifford said of the Honor Flight.
The Western North Dakota Honor Flight will be the grand marshal of the 2026 North Dakota State Parade Saturday, July 18, in Minot.
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