Vlogger Calum McSwiggan took to Instagram over the weekend to share a photo of himself in hospital, detailing how he was “beaten up by three guys” outside a gay nightclub in West Hollywood.
McSwiggan wrote on his Instagram: “With three broken teeth and six stitches in my forehead, I’ve never felt so terrified to be a gay man in the public eye.”
But now police in West Hollywood are questioning the gay social influencer’s story, and have taken him into custody.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that deputies responded early Monday to McSwiggan’s report of assault after leaving a West Hollywood nightclub. But the Sheriff’s Department said that deputies at the scene “were unable to substantiate the assault,” according to a statement.
Deputies then placed McSwiggan, 26, under arrest about 2:30 a.m. Monday after he allegedly vandalized a car along Santa Monica Boulevard.
The Los Angeles Times reports that according to jail records McSwiggan was booked on a count of vandalism with property damage greater than $400 and held on $20,000 bail.
Before being placed in his jail cell, deputies had McSwiggan stand for a booking photo, which appears to show no obvious injuries.
Once inside a solo jail cell, McSwiggan “was then observed injuring himself with the handle and receiver to a payphone,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.
He was taken to the hospital for treatment. McSwiggan was released from custody just before 9:15 p.m. Monday with a citation to appear in court at a later date.
The British YouTube personality has stated on Twitter that he’s been told “to say nothing before court tomorrow.”
