The Bothell High School teacher who was found bloodied with a zip tie around his neck in May staged his own attack, officials revealed Thursday.

Cal Pygott, 63, was found by another teacher when he hobbled out of his woodshop 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, city spokesperson Ken Seuberlich said during an Aug. 25 press conference. After reviewing physical evidence, video footage and giving the teacher a polygraph test, law enforcement officials have concluded that Pygott self-inflicted his injuries and staged his attack.

“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.”

Though he declined to state what specific details led police to believe Pygott fabricated his attack, Seuberlich said the evidence did not corroborate the teacher’s story. The police investigation into Pygott’s alleged attack was extensive, Seuberlich said, though he could not cite a specific dollar amount.

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 wood shop room did not have any video surveillance cameras.

Police called Pygott in for an interview earlier this week after the final analysis of evidence sent to the state’s crime lab. When interviewed and given a polygraph examination Aug. 21, the teacher’s story unraveled and he admitted to falsifying his attack, Seuberlich said. Officials declined to reveal why Pygott staged the attack.

Pygott is currently on paid administrative leave 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. He clearly made a mistake and the mistake has huge consequences,” said Dr. Michelle Reid, superintendent of the Northshore School District.

Counseling services were offered following the attack, and will continue to be offered for staff when school starts on Sept. 6.