3805 23rd Street

Lubbock, TX 79410
February 19, 2015
Ron Seacrist
413 Flint Avenue
Lubbock, TX 79409

Dear Mr. Seacrist,

My name is Jake Wischkaemper, and I am a senior at Texas Tech University. I am writing you this
letter in order to describe an encounter I had with Officer Weaver on the morning of February 12,
2015. At approximately 12:25AM, I exited the Center for the Study of Addiction and Recovery from
the east door and walked to my car, which was parked at the eastern edge of the parking lot. After
pulling out of the parking lot, I drove south on 19th street. At the intersection of 19th street and
University Avenue, while sitting in the turning lane, I noticed a Texas Tech Police car behind me;
Officer Weaver was inside. He followed me through the left turn and switched on his lights after
exiting the intersection. I immediately pulled over into the McAllisters parking lot.
When Officer Weaver approached my car, he asked where I was coming from; I explained that I am
a student and told him where I was coming from. I then asked the officer why he was detaining me;
he explained that I had appeared suspicious and that another officer requested (via radio) that he
detain me. I asked Officer Weaver if my presence in a parking lot was enough to arouse reasonable
suspicion, the burden required for ones detention. He told me that generally students arent
allowed to park over there. I explained that students can park in the faculty parking lot between
certain hours; he agreed. He assured me that the circumstances did warrant my detention.
Perhaps the most troubling part of my conversation with Officer Weaver was that after he
explained why my movements appeared suspicious that night, he told me that it was a slow night
and were bored out here. Thought Officer Weaver was friendly in demeanor, I do not believe that
my actions were such that they would have led a reasonable person to believe that a crime had
been committed. Despite the courteous and personable nature of my encounter with Officer
Weaver, I assert that my detention was unlawful and a violation of my fourth amendment right.
Accordingly, I would like to file a complaint with the Texas Tech University Police Department
regarding my detention on February 12, 2015. While I realize the scope of this incident was narrow
and the severity minor, I feel compelled to lodge this complaint; this incident was but a small piece
of a very large and concerning trend regarding policing tactics in the United States. It is my hope
that this complaint will help to stem the tide of unconstitutional policing practices and serve as a
reminder that students at Texas Tech are entitled to each amendment guaranteed under the Bill of
Rights.
Sincerely,
Jake Wischkaemper