Trooper interupts man strangling woman

As Wells made the turn to drop in behind the vehicle and see what the problem was, he observed a man on top of a female in the front seat strangling her with both hands. Rushing up to the vehicle, he could see the woman was on her back in the front seat and had her legs wrapped around the man's shoulders attempting to push him off her as he continued to strangle her even as Wells got to the door. The woman was screaming at Wells to "Please help me, he's going to kill me."

Going to the driver's door, Wells pulled the man out at gunpoint and arrested him.

The suspect has been identified as Isaac M. Hannigan, 46, Toppenish area resident. The victim, a 46-year-old woman who also lives in the Toppenish area, was treated and released from the Klickitat Valley Hospital for bruising to her neck.

So far, based on statements from both the victim and suspect it appears the victim and suspect are strangers.

The suspect was hitchhiking in the Toppenish area on SR-97 and the victim picked him up. The victim states the suspect forced her to turn control of her car over to him, telling her he would kill her if she didn't do as she was told and at one point held a screwdriver or knife to her throat. When the victim saw Trooper Wells approaching in the distance, she grabbed the wheel of the car and the suspect locked the brakes to stop the car from running off the road.

Hannigan was booked into the Klickitat County Jail for second degree assault and felony harassment.

Further investigation may result in additional or upgraded charges based on decisions by the prosecutor's office.