Three men were stopped by University police officers Saturday when one of the officers noticed one of them carrying a marijuana pipe.

University police Capt. Steve Johnson said the officers observed the men exiting a location known by officers to have past drug violations.

One of the men, University College of Liberal Arts freshman Brad Tracy, said he and his friends were walking to Pioneer Hall on Harvard Street when a police officer stopped his car, got out and asked what the men were doing.

Johnson said the officer searched the men because one man was “covering a large bulge on the right side of his body.”

Tracy said when the officer asked to search their pockets, the men declined.

“We told him that was illegal search and seizure, and we knew our rights,” Tracy said.

Johnson said the men were uncooperative. One of the men, University CLA student Ed Kerscher, was arrested for obstruction of the legal process. Johnson said Kerscher was physically uncooperative.

Both Kerscher and Tracy said they are speaking with their lawyers and seeking help from Student Legal Services.

Kerscher said he felt wronged by the police and does not agree with the arrest.

“It’s a ridiculous claim,” Kerscher said. “I was held in jail for four days and not charged with anything.”

Tracy was cited for a narcotics violation and consumption of liquor by a minor in the report, although he said he never took a breathalyzer test.

“I hadn’t even been drinking that night,” Tracy said.

Police found a smaller marijuana pipe in Tracy’s pocket.

“It wasn’t even mine,” Tracy said. “Yeah, I did something illegal, but I feel they were doing more illegal things.”

Tracy and his friend were given tickets and released. Johnson said Kerscher was held in jail because he did not cooperate with police.