FLINT, MI -- Flint police say they're seeing some instances of people who accidentally shoot themselves and then lie about it afterward, causing police to put more time and resources into a call than would otherwise be necessary.

Now, authorities are pursuing criminal charges in at least two of the cases.

"The motivation is frequently to cover up criminal activity they weren't supposed to be involved in," said Flint police Lt. Devon Bernritter.

On Jan. 17, Flint police responded to the 3800 block of South Saginaw Street to a report of a shooting. When numerous officers, medical personnel and a supervisor arrived, they found Tarence Lard Jr. lying in a parking lot with a gunshot wound to his leg.

Lard, 20, of Flint told police he was the victim of a drive-by shooting while walking through the lot.

Tarence Lard Jr.

Later on, police found a gun, and after speaking to Lard, he was charged with three felonies for allegedly filing a false report.

Bernritter says Lard is part of a growing number of people in Flint who shoot themselves and then tell police someone else shot them.

He said it's becoming more of a problem for a police department that already is struggling with reduced ranks.

"If an individual calls 911 and says 'Hey, I accidently shot myself.' That is a response that is handled routinely with an individual officer," he said. "If they say 'I was shot by someone else' - that triggers a full (detective bureau) response and that takes us away from other potential crimes."

Lard's attorney, Scott R. Bigger, said his client shouldn't be charged.

Prosecutors have charged Lard with three felonies: carrying a concealed weapon, lying to a peace officer and false reporting a felony.

"Police are trying to turn this into a Plaxico Burress case, but the facts don't support that," Bigger said.

Burress, a former Super Bowl winning NFL wide receiver and Michigan State University star, served 20 months in jail in 2008 after he accidentally shot himself in the leg with an unregistered handgun while inside a New York night club.

Police don't want to discourage anyone from calling the police if they accidentally shoot themselves, and Bernritter said it is imperative victims do so in order to get prompt medical attention.

But police also want people to know that filing a false report has consequences.

Since mid-December, there have been about six people arrested for allegedly false reporting a felony, Bernritter said. In those cases, the individuals allegedly shot themselves and told police a different story, he said.

There have been another dozen incidents during the same time span in which there were no charges requested because police couldn't prove there was an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound, Bernritter said.

"They need to tell us the truth. Sometimes there are consequences," Bernritter said. "But there are additional consequences if they lie because we are going to charge every single instance."

He said there hasn't been a single 911 call for a report of an accidental shooting in the last three months.

The Flint Police Department has posted on its Facebook page some of the arrests on suspicion of false report of a felony.

Oscar Banks, 23, of Flint showed up with a gunshot wound at Hurley Medical Center on Dec. 28.

Police said Banks told them he was walking to his vehicle when a man put a gun in his face and there was a struggle.

Oscar Banks

Banks told police the gunman shot him as he ran away, police said.

Turns out, police say that's not how the events unfolded.

Investigators found blood in several areas at Banks' home, a bullet hole in his floor that led to an adjoining apartment and a stolen handgun, police said.

Banks later pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of filing a false report and was fined $1,050 and given a 20-day optional jail sentence.

Bernritter said false reports tax the police department's "already-taxed resources."

Flint has 108 officers and needs twice that many, according to a report released last month by Washington, D.C.,-based Center for Public Safety Management.

"It's really cheating these citizens," Bernritter said.

Dominic Adams is a reporter for The Flint Journal. Contact him at dadams5@mlive.com or 810-241-8803. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.