Jury finds Pennsylvania man guilty of filing false police report tied to alleged park incident
LANCASTER, Pa. — A Lancaster man was convicted after prosecutors said he fabricated a bizarre story about catching two people performing sexual acts inside a public park restroom — a claim investigators later disproved using surveillance footage.
A Lancaster County jury found 50-year-old Dexter Verdine Smith guilty May 5 following a two-day trial, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.
Smith, who lives on North Plum Street in Lancaster, was convicted of two counts of making false reports to law enforcement, one count of obstructing the administration of law and two counts of harassment.
Prosecutors said Smith falsely called 911 in March 2025 claiming he witnessed a man and woman engaging in oral sex inside a restroom at Stauffer Park in Manheim Township.
Smith also allegedly told police the woman was a known prostitute and claimed drugs were visible inside the restroom.
When officers responded, investigators found no one inside the bathroom.
Authorities later reviewed security footage from the park, which prosecutors said showed Smith entering the restroom alone.
According to investigators, Smith remained inside for approximately 20 minutes before exiting.
Surveillance footage also showed Smith walking past a man and woman matching the description he had provided to police, but investigators found no evidence the pair ever entered the restroom together.
The jury returned guilty verdicts after less than two hours of deliberation.
Judge Todd Brown thanked jurors for their “diligence and attention” before dismissing them following the verdict.
Smith remains free on his own recognizance while awaiting sentencing after a pre-sentence investigation.
Assistant District Attorney Samantha Frost prosecuted the case.
Key Points
- A Lancaster jury convicted a man of filing false police reports tied to a fake park restroom claim
- Prosecutors said surveillance footage disproved the defendant’s story
- The defendant remains free pending sentencing in Lancaster County
