A Lancaster County jury convicted a city man of falsely reporting a crime to police following a two-day trial this month.

The jury found Dexter Verdine Smith, of the 100 block of North Plum Street, guilty on May 5 of two counts of making false reports to law enforcement, one count of obstructing the administration of law and two counts of harassment.

Smith, 50, had falsely reported to police that he had observed two people performing sexual acts inside a restroom at Stauffer Park in the 1200 block of Lititz Pike in Manheim Township in March 2025. Security footage outside the restroom proved that Smith’s report was untrue. 

In his initial call to 911 and his report to police Smith claimed he had entered the men’s restroom at the park where he found a man and woman having oral sex. Smith also implied that the woman was a known prostitute and claimed that the couple had drugs on a table inside the restroom.

Manheim Township Police Officer Hannah Martin, who filed the charges, was unable to find anyone inside the restroom. 

Security footage at the park showed Smith entering the restroom by himself. When he exited the restroom about 20 minutes later Smith could be seen walking past a man and woman matching the description he provided to police, though there was no evidence they ever entered the bathroom together.

The jury returned a guilty verdict after less than two hours of deliberation.

Prior to dismissing the jury, Judge Todd Brown, who presided over the trial, thanked them for their “diligence and attention” to the case.

Brown is scheduled to sentence Smith following the conclusion of a pre-sentence investigation. Smith remains free on his own recognizance as he awaits sentencing.

Assistant District Attorney Samantha Frost prosecuted the case.