Volunteer At Issaquah Salmon Hatchery Arrested After Long String Of Alleged Fake 911 Calls

THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE ISSAQUAH POLICE DEPARTMENT

After a months-long investigation, the Issaquah Police Department on 09/30/2025 has arrested a volunteer of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery in connection with a series of false emergency calls made to 911 and the Suicide Prevention Hotline (988). The calls, spanning from late July through late September 2025, triggered multiple full-scale emergency responses from law enforcement, East Side Fire and Rescue, and Bellevue Medic 1.

The suspect, a 21-year-old male hatchery volunteer, has been charged with eleven separate false reports, ranging from fabricated active shooter and bomb threats to fake medical emergencies. These calls not only created panic but also diverted critical resources from real emergencies.

The first reported incident occurred on July 29, 2025, when a message submitted via the 988 online portal falsely reported an active shooter and hostage situation at the Salmon Hatchery. The report claimed to be from a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife employee, which was later determined to be untrue. Ten Issaquah Police officers responded to the scene with lights and sirens, which can be dangerous to officers and the public, but found no threat or victims.

Subsequent calls followed a similar pattern:

• July 30, 2025: A second report claimed a shooter with a bomb was at the hatchery. No threat was found.
• August 5, 2025: A third report again alleged gunfire at the hatchery.
• September 16 – 30, 2025: A rapid escalation in frequency and detail of false reports included fake stabbings, seizures, medical emergencies, and firearm threats.

Issaquah Police Department’s Detectives investigated the case and confirmed the suspect was working at the hatchery at the time of the calls and had used false names, untraceable devices, and public infrastructure to conceal his identity. Detectives also found the man had a long past of making false 911 calls in the region.

The suspect was arrested on September 30, 2025, following another false 911 call. At the time, he falsely reported a medical emergency that did not exist, which was confirmed as being false by undercover Detectives that were at the hatchery when the call was made.

He was taken into custody and later admitted during a recorded interview to making the false reports. He cited emotional distress and poor decision-making but acknowledged knowing the consequences of his actions. The suspect had also previously attempted to deflect suspicion onto an ex-girlfriend, but investigative evidence ultimately refuted those claims.

The Issaquah Police Department booked the man into Issaquah City Jail on Ten counts of False Reporting in the 3^rd Degree (RCW 9A.84.040.2C) against the individual and one count of Attempted False Reporting (RCW 9A.84.040.2C.A) for a call he tried to make but did not elicit an emergency response.