Bothell High School teacher admits he faked May assault

Published 1:30 am Thursday, August 25, 2016

By Allison DeAngelis

Bellevue Reporter

BOTHELL — A Bothell High School teacher found injured and with a zip tie around his neck in May staged his own attack, officials said Thursday.

Cal Pygott, 63, was found by another teacher when he hobbled out of his wood shop classroom on May 19, reportedly having been hit on the head by an unknown attacker. At the crime scene, investigators found a piece of butcher paper with the words “This man is not God” written on it.

But there were inconsistencies in the case from the beginning and Pygott ultimately admitted he made up the story, Bothell police Sgt. Ken Seuberlich said during a Thursday press conference. After reviewing physical evidence and video footage and giving the teacher a polygraph, police concluded that Pygott caused his own injuries and staged the scene to make it appear that he’d been attacked.

“It was an anomaly. This was not anything that was normal in the life of a school. So, from the beginning, it was odd, it was strange,” Bothell High School Principal Bob Stewart said. “Strange things happen, you can’t predict them.”

Pygott has taught composites, manufacturing and engineering, wood and metal shop as well as welding classes, according to the school district website.

Although he declined to discuss specific details, Seuberlich said the evidence did not corroborate the teacher’s story. The investigation was extensive, Seuberlich said.

Video surveillance of the school’s campus was examined by investigators, but no suspect could be seen at the time of the attack. Pygott’s woodshop classroom did not have any video surveillance cameras.

Police interviewed Pygott earlier this week after a final analysis of evidence that had been sent to the state’s crime lab. When interviewed and given a polygraph exam the teacher’s story unraveled and he admitted to falsifying his attack, Seuberlich said. Officials declined to discuss Pygott’s motive.

Pygott is currently on paid administrative leave from his teaching job pending the final investigation report and the filing of any potential criminal charges.

“One of the things we’ve talked about as an administrative team is that we don’t support the actions, the decisions that Mr. Pygott made, but we do support him as a human being,” said Michelle Reid, superintendent of the Northshore School District. “He clearly made a mistake and the mistake has huge consequences.”

Counselors were on hand after the initial report of the attack, and will continue to be available to staff when school starts Sept. 6.

Some classes were canceled after the assault was reported. Bothell police provided an increased presence and students wore blue in a show of support.