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Video: Seattle Police brutality or justified force in arrest of Issac Ocak?

BY Jillian Raftery  on January 7, 2013 @ 1:28 pm (Updated: 4:12 pm - 1/7/13 )


Warning: This video may be inappropriate for some audiences.

Seattle attorney James Egan has released another video of a client's arrest that he is calling police brutality, which is under review by the Seattle Police Department's Office of Professional Accountability. But Dori is skeptical about Egan's claim and thinks the officers were just protecting themselves.

The incident began when Egan's client, Isaac Ocak, left his car running in the parking lot directly outside of the door of a Marshall's department store in Seattle on December 29, 2010 while exchanging a Christmas gift he bought for his nephew.

The video, released Friday by Egan, shows Ocak initially talking calmly with officers next to his car, then answering questions with his hands spread on the officers' car.

After several minutes Ocak is handcuffed by the officers, who say that he was resisting arrest and that he bit one of them on the hand. Ocak says that he felt harassed by the officers and that he didn't do anything wrong.

Egan says that the main issue is that they had no reason to suspect Ocak of a crime in the first place, or to detain him after they found out why his car was left locked and running outside the store.

"In that circumstance they could determine or dispel whether criminal activity is afoot," said Egan.

Ocak wasn't breaking any laws by leaving the car running on private property. The officers, however, asked him about his driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance. They also asked why he had so many keys on his key ring.

"They started asking him about his license and insurance, and meanwhile, Dori," said Egan, "he's been detained for eight minutes on the hood of the patrol car with Officer Longley telling him to keep his hands on the patrol car. This is well beyond the scope of what's called a 'Terry stop-and-frisk' or 'Terry stop-and-detain,' and that's when the officers jumped on him because he lifted his hands off the hood of the car one too many times."

Egan thinks their questions indicate that the officers were looking for a reason to arrest Ocak.

"There was no reason to detain him once they determined that his parking there was legitimate, albeit improper - I'll agree, leaving your car running outside a store is a dumb, juvenile thing to do," said Egan. "The car's locked, but they've sorted out the reason behind it. But they can't even issue a parking ticket, do you understand, he's on private property - they can't do anything after that except tell him to move his car."

Dori empathizes with the Seattle Police Officers involved who may have felt unsafe when Ocak became agitated.

"They say it looks suspicious, running car outside a store - something a shop-lifter might do. Guy with a - they say - a history of assaulting cops. Not complying, doesn't keep his hands on the hood. They say they smelled weed from the inside of the vehicle," said Dori. "I think these cops have to make sure they come home at the end of shift."

According to reports, the car wasn't registered to Ocak. His background check was also flagged, saying he had a juvenile record and had been "assaultive" toward officers in the past.

Dori, considering all the details, thought the officers had a reason to be worried.

Egan denied flatly that Ocak posed a risk, or that he had ever been "assaultive" in the past. He said that Seattle Police spokesman Sean Whitcomb could not give any evidence of "assaultive behavior" when asked by Seattle Times reporters at a press conference Friday.

"If he's 'assaultive' towards officers in the past, then why are they detaining him further? He's not assaulting them right there," said Egan, "he's saying 'Sir, please let me go. I apologize. I shouldn't have parked there. I understand it.'"

For Dori, it doesn't matter why Ocak was stopped. It all boils down to the fact that Ocak appears to be resisting police officers.

"The guy wasn't complying, in my view," said Dori.

Jillian Raftery, Social Media Captain
Jillian Raftery is a social media captain for the Dori Monson Show. She loves the neighborly vibe of the Pacific Northwest and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
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Comments (14)


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  • what why how wrote...
    And cops wonder why people hate cops
    January 8, 2013 1:27 pm
    This is just more amo (no pun intended) for people to hate cops or to have reason for hating cops. Here’s a message to law enforcement in general: Thank you for the protection but STOP putting your pride and flaunting your authority above common sense. Do your job as if it was going to be reviewed in front of your superiors even on the sidewalk. He might have been a smart a_s but not a threat. Grow up SPD this is not Jr High.
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  • frustrated wrote...
    De-escalation skills?
    January 20, 2013 7:36 pm
    I am a huge supporter of our law enforcement agencies, and truly believe our communities would be chaos without them. I have a blue light on my porch and have had blue ribbons on my car since the Lakewood officers were slain. I have several friends who work in law enforcement. I truly understand the issues they face. What frustrates me is where police escalate situations to a point of frustration on the part of the officers and the detained. Eventually both reach a breaking point. The police then use questionable tactics to subdue the individual. Although, in any other situation, punching or choking an individual would be considered assault which would surely end an officers career? I worked in an education environment for troubled and often violent teens. I was terminated and charged with assault for placing my HAND on an aggressive student's chest to keep him from leaving the building. I NEVER struck him or any other student in my career nor have I ever choked or punched a student when attempting to restrain them when they were physically assaultive, and there have been many students. In fact, I was commended for my ability to de-escalate a student and still remain calm. Even if they spat on me, hit me or bit me. We were trained in specific techniques to de-escalate and, if necessary to restrain a student. We were also trained to understand our "Optimum Performance Range". Which means if we feel we are unable to deal with the situation calmly, we allow another to take command of the situation while we assist. Never was it acceptable to hit, choke or attempt to inflict pain regardless of the situation, and some of the students would require numerous large adults to contain them. What especially frustrates me is, when I was charged, the officer told me "like police officers, teachers are held to a higher standard and can't engage in such behavior". (I put my hand on his chest pulled him back and stepped in front of him to prevent him from leaving. I never hit him, choked him or even indicated I would harm him.) Yet, I see officers engaging in much worse behavior in similar circumstance. My incident cost me my job, my career, a criminal charge and completely changed my life and yet the incident didn't even result in a parent or student complaint. Yet, these officers who actions are publicly displayed, who cost the department millions in legal fees and suits, cost their fellow officers respect and admiration as well as the profession, and potentially death or disability to a POSSIBLE suspect (John T. Williams and Christopher Harris)don't even lose a day of pay? And, may even be justified for their actions. If not justified, they are protected by RCW 9A.16.040(3). Apparently a license to commit murder and assault somewhat like diplomatic immunity. Funny, the officer who initiated my charge was later placed on administrative leave for PTSD and supplying alcohol to a minor. She now has her job back and never lost a day of pay. I don't fault those officers who truly are good officers, and there are many. In fact, they deserve recognition for the jobs they do. It is a very difficult job. But, the ones who aren't? They need to be held responsible. If they can't be responsible for their actions, then they have no right to hold others responsible. Understand, I don't just single out the SPD. Because the SPD does a very good job and is not a bad organization nor are all their officers. In fact, I am sorry for the officers who are suffering because of those officers who are bad. I'm identifying all public servants (politicians, teachers, police, etc.) In fact, all people in general. There is no exceptions for inappropriate behavior. If you find you can't handle the frustrations, possibly you should step away from the profession whether a public servant, military, business leader or even a parent. I think too often, people become officers, politicians, etc. for the power it commands rather than the compassion and understanding it demands, and that goes with an ability to de-escalate a tense situation. If they could develop this skill, they would save themselves as well as their profession, those they work with and those they serve a lot of negative outcomes. We must all pay for the mistakes we make. May the mistakes in life be few and the cost of the mistake be appropriate regardless of the circumstances.
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