www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2402969Man accused of paying parking ticket with befouled bills
BURLINGTON, Iowa A psychiatrist who police say smeared excrement on dollar bills used to pay a parking ticket has been charged with harassment of a public official.
Ronald Preston McPike, of Bonaparte, was arrested September 30th at his office in Burlington.
The 52-year-old McPike pleaded not guilty to the charge, a misdemeanor, and was released on 125 dollars bond pending a December 8th court appearance.
Officers received an envelope in July labeled "Foreign brown substance on bills." Police said the envelope contained several dollar bills and a parking ticket made out to a vehicle registered to McPike.
Tests indicated the brown substance was fecal matter and indicated that the stain patterns resulted from the matter being smeared on the bills.
McPike told police the money fell into a toilet and was retrieved to pay the parking ticket, police said.
If convicted, McPike could face up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to 500 dollars.