Update: Bond has been set at $5,257 for a man investigators say gave a false report to the sheriff’s office about being attack by a wild animal. 

Rickey Lynch, 33, of Hemingway, has been charged with breach of peace, nonaggravated in nature, and filing a false police report of a felony violation.

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A reported panther attack in Georgetown County was false, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office said.

Investigators concluded that a Hemingway area man’s report of being attacked by a wild animal Wednesday night is false, according to the GCSO.

Rickey Wesley Lynch, 33, of Moore Drive in Hemingway, was interviewed at the sheriff’s office after “admitting a story about an encounter with a large black cat while walking in his neighborhood was not true.”

According to a tweet from the Georgetown County Sheriff, Lynch is charged with one count each of breach of peace and filing a false report. 

On Tuesday, Georgetown County deputies responded to an animal attack report where a man said a large, black cat dragged him into a ditch.

Deputies responded to the report on Moore Drive in the Hemingway area on Tuesday, according to a post on the GCSO’s Facebook page. The victim reportedly stated that the cat dragged him into a ditch while he was walking along Dennis Drive toward Willard Loop.

The victim also reportedly said he saw a cub cross the road before he felt something grab his pant leg and drag him to the ground, the post also said. The animal reportedly ripped the man’s shirt sleeve off before walking away and making a “crying noise.” 

“He said the animal was a black colored oversized cat-like animal approximately waist high with a tail that dragged the ground,” the post stated. “He was able to get to a safe location before contacting 911. He was transported to a local hospital.”