A 19-year-old man in Arizona faked his own kidnapping because he wanted to get out of going to work.
According to The Hill, police responded around 5:25 p.m. on February 10 to reports of a man who appeared to be injured near tracks in Coolidge, which is located just outside of Phoenix.
We all want to get out of work sometimes but this is taking things a bit too far! #BrandonSoules #Coolidge #Arizona… https://t.co/OTk2tFtEII— Crazy America (@Crazy America) 1614022160.0
Authorities said they found Brandon Soules on the ground near the Coolidge water tower with his hands tied behind his back and a purple bandana stuffed in his mouth.
He claimed two men kidnapped him, knocked him unconscious because his father had money, and drove him around before being left in the desert where he was found.
Soules was taken to the hospital but medical records revealed there was no indication of a concussion or head injuries.
After extensive investigating, Coolidge detectives concluded Soules had fabricated the story.
Officers confirmed:
"Evidence was discovered showing his story was fabricated and no kidnapping or assault occurred."
Soules was arrested on February 17 on suspicion of false reporting to police and later admitted to staging his kidnapping as an excuse to get out of work.
Social media users engaged in a collective face-to-palm.
@nytimes Dude. Say you had the stomach flu.— Leonard Pinth-Garnell (@Leonard Pinth-Garnell) 1614110071.0
@nytimes Probably harder to do than the job he was escaping. Well done.— Nietzsche Copernicus (@Nietzsche Copernicus) 1614110543.0
@nytimes Not even a Florida man?— Westland (@Westland) 1614109881.0
@nytimes @MalcolmNance I hope that if this man would have gone to his boss and said I need to take a month off for… https://t.co/7WTrrFVuNc— fiona (@fiona) 1614154274.0
@nytimes Lol damn what does my man do for work that he needed to do all of that???— CJ Johnson (@CJ Johnson) 1614145293.0
The mockery of his unsuccessful ruse continued.
@nytimes Amateur. Try claiming you were kidnapped by an evil spirit for a weekend & be so convincing that your pare… https://t.co/oyxjnZJPnf— Author Sasha Strachan (@Author Sasha Strachan) 1614141077.0
@nytimes Dude... its a pandemic... you really didn't have to go this far.— 🌈Generic Name Goes Here (@🌈Generic Name Goes Here) 1614113457.0
@nytimes omg he pulled a Costanza! “After the accident, I managed to survive on grubs & puddle water.”… https://t.co/qoz8MhQ8TP— Serenity Now! (@Serenity Now!) 1614114993.0
@KamienDeane @nytimes 😂— Nubian Nemesis (@Nubian Nemesis) 1614115421.0
He was thought to have worked installing tires at a car shop called The Tire Factory, according to Indy 100.
It turns out the teen did manifest his wish to get out of work after all—permanently.
He is reportedly no longer employed by the car shop.