Smear campaign over parking ticket

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) -- A psychiatrist made a stink over paying a parking ticket, using dirty money to cover the fine.
Police say Ronald Preston McPike has been charged with harassment of a public official for smearing excrement on dollar bills used to pay the ticket.
McPike, 52, pleaded innocent to the charge, a misdemeanor, and was released on $125 bond pending a Dec. 8 court appearance. He was arrested Sept. 30 at his office in Burlington.
Officers received an envelope in July labeled "Foreign brown substance on bills." The envelope contained several dollar bills and a parking ticket made out to a vehicle registered to McPike, police said.
Tests indicated the brown substance was fecal matter and indicated the stain patterns resulted from feces being smeared on the bills.
McPike told police the money fell into a toilet and was retrieved to pay the ticket, police said.
If convicted, McPike could face up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.