The Washington State Department of Health has indefinitely suspended the license of a surgical tech who told colleagues at a Seattle-area hospital that that he had a cell phone implanted in his head while he worked as an FBI operative involved in a sex sting operation.

The tech, identified as William Leverentz, claimed an antenna attached to the implanted cell phone ran through a wire to his nose, and that a chip in his hand let him download data when he raised it to his head. He also told staff members that other implanted equipment rested below scars on his back.

Health department records show that when hospital leadership met with Mr. Leverentz to discuss his behavior, he said people were out to kill him, and that he would ask the FBI for help. When a staff member tried to show him how an ultrasound machine worked, he reportedly wanted to use the device to locate the wires and implants in his body.

Mr. Leverentz also met with a member of the medical staff and a human resources rep, but informed them that he wanted to go to the emergency room. Once he arrived in the ER and was told he had to change into a hospital gown, he allegedly became defensive and left the facility.

A health department spokesman declined to disclose the hospital where Mr. Leverentz worked. The department of health suspended Mr. Leverentz for being unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety.

Daniel Cook