BOTHELL — His story of being attacked in a classroom at Bothell High School in May created fear among students, parents and teachers.
Calvin Pygott, the wood shop teacher, claimed he’d been knocked unconscious and awoke in a pool of blood. He said someone had wrapped a zip tie around his neck, making it difficult for him to breathe. Another teacher found Pygott, removed the ligature and called for help. Pygott, 63, was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The school was locked down and the district cancelled classes for the next day. Extra counselors were offered to students when they returned to school. The public was told that police dogs were being used to track the unknown assailant. Washington State Patrol crime lab technicians were called in to assist with evidence collection.
Detectives seized a hammer, zip tie and blood from the wood shop. They also found a piece of butcher paper, on which someone had written, “This Man is Not God.”
Now, Pygott is facing possible jail time for the May 19 incident. Bothell city prosecutors Friday charged him with making a false statement and obstructing a police officer, both gross misdemeanors. Pygott is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 20 in Bothell Municipal Court.
Prosecutors allege that Pygott lied to police and then named students as possible suspects, according to court papers.
Pygott remains on paid administrative leave, according to the Northshore School District.
Superintendent Michelle Reid late last month notified the state Superintendent of Public Instruction that she had “sufficient reliable information to believe that certificated teacher Calvin Pygott has committed acts of unprofessional conduct.”
The district, Reid wrote, also has sufficient information to believe that the wood shop teacher “displayed disregard for the character and personal fitness necessary” to serve as a teacher.
The state hasn’t yet determined if Pygott will be investigated by the Office of Professional Practices, said Nathan Olson, a spokesman for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. That decision could be reached as early as next week.
“The district will follow the case closely. For now, the teacher remains on paid administrative leave as the district determines next steps,” Northshore officials wrote in a press release Friday.
Bothell police launched an extensive investigation, reviewing video footage from the school, interviewing potential suspects and submitting evidence to the State Patrol crime lab.
Inconsistencies surfaced between Pygott’s claims and the evidence collected, police said. Detectives interviewed the teacher again last month. He stuck with his story, according to police. He agreed to take a polygraph examination, which allegedly indicated that he was lying. Once confronted with those results, Pygott admitted he made up the story, according to police.
He told detectives he intentionally injured himself and staged the crime scene. He claimed he acted out of desperation because of financial troubles.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
