Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on January 3, 2020

Sean Samitt mug shot from Dec. 20, 2019(Photo: West Bloomfield Township Police)

A 26-year-old man faked his own stabbing at the West Bloomfield synagogue where he worked and then reported he was attacked because of his Jewish faith, authoritiessay.

Now Sean Samittis facing a felony charge of filing a false police report, according to West Bloomfield Police.

Police said Samitt's Apple Watch helped them solve the case.

Samitt was arrestedon Dec. 20 and arraigned the same daybefore Magistrate Julie Nelson-Klein atthe 48th District Court in Oakland Country on one count of falsely reporting a felony, a crime punishable up to four years. According to authorities, his $7,500 bond was posted by Samitt's mother.

On Thursday, he appeared at the48th District Courtfor a probable cause hearing. He is expected to appear for the preliminary examination on Jan. 14.

Samit reported he was attacked andstabbed in the abdomenby an unknown man in the parking lot at the Temple Kol Ami, where he worked as a cantorial soloist, which is amusic director.

He reported the crime on Dec. 15, telling police that he was confronted about 7 p.m.as he was leaving work bya white male in his late 30s to early 40s.

Samitt said that the alleged attackershouted, "You Jews!" and said "too many immigrants are here," according to the police report obtained by the Free Press through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Samitt told officers that he was punched in the chest and abdomen during the encounter andhe feared for his life, the report said. He said he escaped by kneeing the attacker in the groin and pushing him away, then drove himself to Henry Ford Hospital where a security staffcalled local authorities about the attack.

Police said officers searched the parking lot for a weapon, blood or any other piece of evidence but came back negative.K-9 officers were not able to locate a scent on the suspect.

While searching Temple Kol Ami, detectives found bloody tissues in Samitt's office andthe men's bathroom. They also located a knife in the kitchen area with blood on the tip of the blade.

Suspecting Samitt's wounds were self-inflicted, officers obtained surveillance footage from a house across the street and confirmed that no assault took place.

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Police said Samitt admitted to making up the attack and said he lost consciousness and accidentally stabbed himself while he was washing dishes at the synagogue. He said he lied about the incident because he was being harassed at work about his medical condition.

The second story also turned out to be fabricated, police said.

Officers were able to obtain information from Samitt's cellphone health application that was synced to his Apple Watch, confirming he did not lose consciousness.Samitt then admitted to intentionally stabbing himself.

"I put the knife in to see like just how deep it went because I wasn't really sure then in the process I probably dug it in a little more."

He told police he wanted out of his contract with Temple Kol Ami and this was his way out.

Temple Kol AmiExecutive Director Cheryl Friendman told police that Samitt had been an employee for about 1 years.

A member of the synagogue told the Free Press, "Sean resigned on Dec. 16 and there is no other information."

When contacted by the Free Press, theJewish Community Center of Metro Detroit would only say it takes these matters very seriously.

"We are so very grateful for our law enforcement in Detroit who takes every hate crime seriously," Assistant Executive Director Heidi Budaj said. "We are fortunate to have a partnership with West Bloomfield Township Police who acts to keep our community safe."

The Anti Defamation League states on itswebsitethata false case "could have a detrimental impact on those actual victims of bias crimes who seek justice in the future."

"Bias crimes are message crimes. They are intended to intimidate the victim and the victims entire community, leaving them feeling fearful, isolated and vulnerable."

A false case "could have a detrimental impact on those actual victims of bias crimes who seek justice in the future."

Samitt's false report occurred in the same month of two major anti-Semitic attacks in the U.S.In Jersey City, New Jersey, ashooting at a kosher marketon Dec. 10 left six dead including two Hasidic Jews. The citys mayor, Steven Fulop,said on Twitterthat officialsbelieved that the gunmen had targeted the location they attacked.

Then last Saturday in Monsey, New York, five people were stabbedat the home of a rabbi during a Hanukkah party.

More: Armed man inside West Bloomfield Hampton Inn surrenders to police

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Contact Bisma Parvez: 313-222-6420or bparvez@gannett.comFollow her on Twitter @bismapar

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He told police he was stabbed for being Jewish. Then his Apple Watch caught him in a lie. - Detroit Free Press

Category: Anti-Defamation League
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