Man Testifies Trooper Was Unstable

A state trooper who detained a man and a woman en route to an abortion clinic seemed unstable and capable of doing anything to prevent the woman from going through with the procedure, the man says.

Justin Cooper testified at a hearing Tuesday that he was afraid of Trooper Lane Jackstadt when the patrolman stopped Cooper and his girlfriend, Deanna Thomas, for speeding on Interstate 90 on July 27, 1994.

Jackstadt, a 12-year-veteran of the Washington State Patrol, was fired in November for misconduct and breaching the code of ethics. The hearing is to consider his appeal of the firing.

Thomas, then 18, and Cooper, 20 at the time, contend that Jackstadt forced them to go to a Woodinville center for anti-abortion counseling.

Jackstadt contends he merely suggested alternatives to abortion and that the couple went to Woodinville with him voluntarily.

Tuesday, Cooper said he believed Jackstadt was unstable because “it seemed strange to me a trooper would talk about his wife’s miscarriage and abortion.”

Cooper said he followed Jackstadt to the Woodinville center because Jackstadt had his driver’s license, which was expired.