Top Stories of 2012: Piggyback Bandit - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Top Stories of 2012: Piggyback Bandit

We are taking a look back at some of the memorable stories we covered in 2012.

This one, may be one of the most unusual.

A man known as the "Piggyback Bandit" made his appearance in Bismarck last February.

Sherwin Shayegan was notorious for traveling to sporting events and jumping on athlete's backs.

His antics started in 2008 in Washington and Oregon.

This year he moved to the Midwest.

 Unusual. Odd. Creepy...

All words used to describe a man that passes himself off as one "big" fan.

The 250 pound Sherwin Shayegan has a nickname himself... the Piggyback bandit... and school officials say he was in Bismarck.

"he was at three events girls and boys games at century against St. Mary's high school he was also at the century Fargo south hockey game. and the behavior that was reported to us was that there were a number attempts to get piggyback rides and he was successful at a couple of them. Tried to make his way to locker rooms and was stopped.

Director of Bismarck Schools Activities, Jim Haussler, was at the Century St. Mary's game... He saw Shayegan jump on players....

"Neither school knew who he belonged to. Each was assuming he was belonging to the other school."

He thought it was odd...so did others... and eventually the man seen here in Century's hallway wearing a Cat uniform... was connected to pictures online of the "piggyback bandit."

"This is repeated behavior and we are taking this seriously."

Hausler has sent an email about Shayegan with his picture to administrators, coaches and ticket takers.

"We have alerted the people that would spot him if he would enter the contests. officers at the games - everyone on alert. passed on to every school - everyone is aware he is banned along with picture, it's out there."

"(Donnell Preskey) The North Dakota High School Athletic Association has issued an order banning Sherwin Shayegan from all high school sporting events in the state. Other states including Washington, Oregon and Montana have done the same."

(Hausler) "Piggybacking inappropriate, most people define it as creepy, it's not typical behavior a 28 year old man should be doing with high schoolers."

Haussler has no idea how Shayegan picked Bismarck as his next opponent.

"I think he keeps moving around and we happened to be the spot he landed on."

But Haussler says he's confident the piggyback bandit has left.

Shayegan has been convicted of crimes involving jumping on athletes backs in other states.

Shortly after our story aired, he was seen in Minnesota, and banned there as well.

National news organizations including ESPN picked up on the piggyback bandit story following the Bismarck stop.