Police: Teacher Faked Attack on Himself for Some Reason

Including giving himself a head wound and putting a zip-tie around his neck
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 25, 2016 4:20 PM CDT
Police: Teacher Faked Attack on Himself for Some Reason
High-school shop teacher Calvin Pygott allegedly faked an attack on himself last May for unknown reasons.   (Twitter)

A Washington state high school teacher who claimed he was attacked in his classroom last May admitted Thursday he made the whole thing up, the Seattle Times reports. Bothell High School shop teacher Calvin Pygott, 63, was found by a fellow teacher in the hall outside his classroom. He claimed he had been knocked unconscious from behind and woke up covered in blood with a head wound and a zip-tie around his neck. According to Q13, school was closed for a day and extra security was brought in. At the time, the district superintendent called it a "really difficult and emotionally wrenching" experience for staff, KUOW reports. But Pygott told Q13 in May that he wasn't going to let it "turn me into a victim."

That's probably true, as it looks more likely to turn him into a criminal. Police say there were holes in Pygott's story from the beginning. On Wednesday, he was asked to take a polygraph test, then invited to make a new statement. Pygott allegedly confessed to staging the whole thing: injuring himself, placing the zip-tie around his neck, and leaving a note that said "this man is not god." Pygott was placed on administrative leave Thursday and could be charged with making false statements and obstruction. It's unclear why Pygott, who created an award-winning carpentry program, would fake an attack on himself. Police haven't said whether he told them his motivation. (Police say this preschool teacher concocted an ISIS attack.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X