Police seek public’s help in finding thief
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
ROCKINGHAM — Everyone knows him. He’s as much of a Richmond County staple as the Rankin Museum, the Seaboard Festival and Christmas on the Square.
Generally anyone who has visited Walmart in Rockingham or watched any parade in the county or visited a festival knows of Scuba Steve and his live-free-and-smile approach towards life. He harms no one — which makes it all the more deplorable that thieves took advantage of Scuba Steve at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday and stole his bicycle cart, guitar, five shirts and an empty money jug.
Scuba Steve said he was able to recover his bike cart, but “they got my guitar … they got my Garth Brooks CDs, my Garth Brooks shirts.”
His favorite Garth Brooks song is “Thunder Rolls.”
He was back at the Walmart parking lot in the, standing with a cardboard sign with a handwritten message:
“Please help me replace my stolen equipment. Any donation is appreciated. Thank you, Scuba Steve.”
His real name is Butch Holmes Rivenbark, 37, of Hamlet. And right now officers with the Rockingham Police Department and representatives of Richmond County Crime Stoppers are seeking the public’s assistance in tracking down the suspect who drove a silver or beige Dodge van, approached Scuba Steve and stole the items listed.
“It’s kind of tragic somebody would do something like that,” said Jim Tanski, director of operations at Griffin car dealership, where Scuba Steve hangs out.
Police said the majority of items stolen have been recovered in Wadesboro. Police are still looking for the suspect and encourage anyone with information on the case to call Det. Sgt. Donavan Young at 910-895-2468. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 910-997-5454.