Gay YouTube star Calum McSwiggan caused his own injuries following arrest, say police
Doubt has been cast on YouTube star Calum McSwiggan’s claim he was injured following a homophobic attack in West Hollywood on Monday night after police said the 26-year-old caused his own injuries after being arrested for vandalism.
We reported yesterday (June 28) that McSwiggan had taken to social media to claim was attacked by three men during a night out with friends a gay club in Los Angeles, where he has been attending YouTube convention Vidcon.
He also shared a picture of his injuries, which he claimed included three broken teeth and a cut to his forehead which required six stitches.
However, in a statement to The Advocate, Holly M. Perez, captain of the West Hollywood Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said when police officers responded to McSwiggan’s report of the attack, they “were unable to substantiate the assault,” as he had “no visible injuries”, and instead arrested the internet personality after they witnessed him vandalising a car.
After being booked, photographed and placed in a cell at West Hollywood police station, police say they observed McSwiggan using a payphone inside the cell to injure himself. Officers then took him to hospital for treatment.
McSwiggan’s booking photo (below, right) was reportedly taken after the ‘attack’ took place.
In his original post, McSwiggan said that authorities, which “should have been there to help”, instead treated him “like a second-class citizen”.
Meanwhile, his claims have seemingly been backed up by fellow YouTube stars who were reportedly with him at the time, including Riyadh Khalaf, who took to Twitter today to claim McSwiggan “didn’t fake it”.
McSwiggan himself took to social media to say he’s been told “to say nothing” before he appears in court later today (June 29), but encouraged friends to message him for “the truth”.
I’ve been told to say nothing before court tomorrow but staying silent here is killing us. If you’re a friend just DM me for the truth.
— Calum McSwiggan (@CalumMcSwiggan) June 29, 2016
I’m not commenting until tomorrow when we know more and can legally speak. I saw Cal screaming crying after the attack. He didn’t fake it
— Riyadh Khalaf (@RiyadhK) June 29, 2016
Read the statement from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, followed by McSwiggan’s original version of events, below:
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has an affirmative duty to fully investigate all assaults and reports of violence in our community. Deputies from West Hollywood Station responded to and investigated the report by Calum McSwiggan that he was assaulted by three males after leaving a local nightclub early Monday morning. Responding deputies were unable to substantiate the assault. Mr. McSwiggan, who had no visible injuries, was subsequently arrested after deputies observed him vandalizing a car in the 8900 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. After being booked and photographed, Mr. McSwiggan was placed into a cell by himself at West Hollywood Station. Mr. McSwiggan was then observed injuring himself with the handle and receiver to a payphone inside the cell. Medical personnel were summoned and Mr. McSwiggan was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Mr. McSwiggan’s booking photo was taken prior to deputies seeing Mr. McSwiggan injuring himself. That booking photo is attached.
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