Man pleads guilty to falsifying report about dog bite

The Associated Press

CAMDENTON, Mo. -- A Camdenton man will spend 10 days in jail for falsifying a police report in which he claimed a dog bit him at a convenience store.

Timothy Gearhart pleaded guilty Monday in Camden County Associate Court to a charge that he lied to police about a dachshund biting him on the lip when he bent down to pick up a gas cap at a convenience store in Camdenton on Aug. 3.

His sentence also included a $500 fine, 50 hours community service and two years probation.

Camdenton police chief Laura Webster said police spent hours investigating the incident.

"Officers spent considerable time trying to track down this animal for the safety of Mr. Gearhart and the citizens of Camdenton," Webster said. "It is disappointing to learn that the information was false."

Police said Gearhart was bitten by a dog at a private home outside Camdenton. The owner of the dachshund that bit Gearhart was later contacted and confirmed the dog was current on its rabies shots. Gearhart said that he underwent rabies shots after the incident and took 30 stitches to close the wound.

"He was bit. It just didn't happen as he reported it," Webster said.