BELFRY, Ky. — A Pike County man was taken to jail after telling police he had been bitten by a snake, when he actually hadn’t.

A state trooper went to check to see if 43-year-old Billy Evans needed any help around 9:30 Saturday night, after spotting him on the side of the road with his truck near Belfry.

The officer wrote in his report that Evans came from the front of his truck carrying a copperhead, saying he had just been bitten before throwing the snake in the weeds. He then showed the officer a knot on his arm where he said he had been bitten.

The officer took Evans to Tug Valley ARH to be treated. However, a doctor who examined the wound said it did not appear to be a snakebite, but rather that Evans had done it to himself with a knife.

Evans continued to say he had been bitten by a copperhead, and allegedly took an aggressive stance toward the officer upon further questioning.

He was arrested and charged with filing a false report and menacing.