A man’s attempt to stage a fake stabbing incident took a surprising turn when his own Apple Watch revealed the truth, leaving authorities puzzled.
Sean Samitt, 26, alleged that he was attacked by a man due to his Jewish faith while working at the West Bloomfield synagogue. He claimed to have been stabbed in the stomach in a car park, with the attacker making anti-Semitic remarks.
Describing the incident on December 15, 2019, Samitt reported being punched in the chest and abdomen before driving himself to a hospital for treatment. However, a subsequent investigation found no evidence of the alleged attack in the car park.
Upon searching Samitt’s office, authorities discovered bloody tissues and a knife with blood on the blade. Confronted with the evidence, Samitt confessed to fabricating the assault, initially claiming he accidentally stabbed himself while washing dishes.
Further investigation using data from Samitt’s mobile phone and Apple Watch contradicted his account, revealing that he had not lost consciousness during the incident. Samitt eventually admitted to intentionally harming himself, stating that he wanted to leave his job.
Various organizations, including the Jewish Community Centre of Metro Detroit and the Anti Defamation League Michigan, expressed concern over false accusations and the impact on genuine victims of bias crimes. Samitt was charged with falsely reporting a felony and faced a potential prison sentence.
Despite being bailed out by his mother, Samitt’s actions underscored the seriousness of filing false police reports and the consequences of diverting law enforcement resources from those in genuine need.
