LOS ANGELES (AP) — A gay YouTube personality who said he was assaulted outside a West Hollywood club has been charged with filing a false police report and faking his injuries.
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department says London-native Calum McSwiggan was seen hitting himself with a jail payphone after his arrest early Monday. McSwiggan had claimed he was assaulted by three men outside a gay club, but deputies said they could not substantiate his claims and took him into custody after seeing him vandalize a car.
The 26-year-old wrote he was attacked by three men who broke his teeth in an Instagram post Tuesday that included a picture of him in a hospital bed.
He was charged Wednesday with one misdemeanor count of making a false police report.
A Facebook message sent to him seeking comment was not immediately returned Wednesday. He was released late Monday after posting $20,000 bail.
Sheriff's officials released his mug shot, which was taken before he hit himself with the phone. No injuries were visible.
In a Facebook post Wednesday, McSwiggan acknowledged he hit himself in the head with a jail phone, but reiterated he was attacked outside the gay club.