By Suzie Ziegler
SEATTLE — An alleged hostage taker told a 911 dispatcher that the officers in hot pursuit were breaking the law, according to bizarre 911 audio obtained by KTTH Radio. Isaac Sissel, a homeless man, made the call on May 9 after kidnapping his girlfriend and taking her hostage, police said. Police tried to pull over Sissel but he refused, the 911 call indicates.
“SPD is illegally chasing me over I don’t know what,” Sissel says on the 911 call.
“Sir, are you able to pull over and talk to officers?” the dispatcher replied.
“No. It is an illegal pursuit, and my license is suspended, and this is an illegal pursuit. They’re not supposed to be able to pursue,” Sissel says.
The call is frantic and at times difficult to understand, but Sissel mentions bill “1074,” an apparent erroneous reference to House Bill 1054. HB 1054 is a new pursuit policy that bars police from pursuing unless there is reasonable suspicion for DUI or probable cause that a violent crime had occurred. Multiple law enforcement leaders have criticized the bill since it was passed in 2020, saying it may lead to more fleeing drivers.
“What do you want me to do for you sir?” the dispatcher asks.
“Make sure they stop chasing us,” Sissel responded.
https://omny.fm/shows/the-jason-rantz-show/911-call-stop-chasing-me
Eventually, Seattle Police officers deployed spike strips to end the pursuit and took Sissel into custody. The victim told police that Sissel had threatened her life multiple times, and a police interview indicated longstanding emotional abuse, according to the report.
Sissel has a history of fleeing police, according to a police report obtained by KTTH.
“Isaac stated he regularly runs from the police because he knows the police can no longer pursue him due to the house bills,” the report reads in part.
Sissel is facing multiple charges related to eluding policing and domestic violence, according to KTTH.