Panel Deadlocked On Ex-Trooper’s Job

Another day, another deadlocked panel for Lane Jackstadt, a former Washington State Patrol trooper who came under fire after he stopped a young couple for speeding en route to an abortion appointment.

A patrol disciplinary review board wound up stalemated Friday on an appeal by Jackstadt, 34, of Redmond, for reinstatement to the job he held for nine years.

Jackstadt was fired in December after patrol officials decided he had cheated on a promotional test for sergeant in 1992 by making a tape recording of the examination. The incident was revealed only last October when fellow troopers told superiors about it, Capt. Tim Erickson said.

The review panel that heard the appeal consisted of two troopers, two command officers and an outside arbitrator. The arbitrator, who is independent of the patrol, now has 30 days in which to render a decision, patrol spokesman Jack Sareault said Friday.

Jackstadt’s lawyers said he was singled out unfairly for punishment because of the uproar over his handling of a traffic stop involving Deanna Thomas, 18, and Justin Cooper, 20, while they were on their way to an abortion appointment July 27 in the suburbs east of Seattle.

Thomas and Cooper said that when Jackstadt learned where they were going, he forced them to follow him to a church-affiliated counseling service.

The ex-trooper’s trial on charges of unlawful imprisonment and official misconduct ended in a hung jury Thursday in King County Superior Court.

Assistant attorney general Gregory P. Canova said he would decide later whether to seek a second trial.

Thomas and Cooper said they wanted Jackstadt brought to trial again, and a decision on whether to file a civil suit against him will be made after the criminal process is complete, said Frank Shoichet, their lawyer.

Patrol officials have denied the abortion stop case affected Jackstadt’s dismissal. Other troopers have been fired for similar conduct during exams, including one at the same time as Jackstadt, Erickson said.