Austin 3:16

Via the Greensburg Daily News...

Locals fans clamoring for an autograph or photo with their favorite iconic wrestler received a Stone Cold disappointment on Saturday.

According Greensburg Police Chief Brian Heaton, a visit to the city by the retired World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) icon Stone Cold Steve Austin was really an impostor looking for some cold hard cash. Originally slated to appear before the pro wrestling event at the Armory on Saturday, the look-alike Austin and his manager were able to convince the local Wal-Mart to hold an autograph signing. During the event, the phony charged fans $10 for an autograph and picture. As the fake Austin began greeting fans, Wal-Mart managers noticed something wasn’t right.
“After it had started, they suspected it to not be on the up and up,” Heaton said.
They immediately called police, Heaton said. However, when officers arrived, the fake had already split. They went to his room at the Lee’s Inn, but the charlatan wrestler had already jumped out of the ring. Officers caught up to the phony Austin’s manager at Wal-Mart, who said associates gave them permission and knew he wasn’t Austin.

“He claims Wal-Mart knew he was a look-alike. However, they had no material stating he was a look alike nor did they say he was a look alike. People thought they were getting the real deal,” Heaton said.

The phony Austin made off with an unknown amount of money from the fans. Heaton said they are continuing the investigation in conjunction with the WWE. The organization owns rights to the name “Stone Cold Steve Austin,” Heaton said, and is taking the impostor’s actions very seriously.

“They’ve had other instances of this happening,” Heaton said.
Both entities are working together and are pursuing charges of identity theft and fraud. Heaton said they had a name and a Kentucky address for the man who was playing Austin, but it had not been verified.

Heaton said this instance provides a valuable lesson.
“This was clearly a scam. If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. No one did their homework. Wal-Mart didn’t, the Parks department, no one,” Heaton said.
The Chief said the whole thing had red flags, such as the car he arrived in and how arrangements were made. There was no security with Austin and no one contacted the GPD for additional security detail, which is normal when a celebrity or dignitary visits. Heaton said everyone just assumed this was the real Austin. The Parks department representatives were even promoting Austin’s visit on WTRE last week.
A call to the Parks Department seeking comment went unanswered Wednesday. Phillip Keene, a spokesperson for Wal-Mart corporate, said the incident was disappointing to everyone involved and was unsure how it happened.

“We don’t approve of our customers being solicited in our stores,” Keene said.
Keene added refunds have been made in some cases, and Wal-Mart is working to make appropriations for customers while cooperating fully with the local police department.

--Adam Huening