Responding to reports that an African-American male was selling drugs, Albany City police apprehended a guy that supposedly matched the perpetrator's description. While James Morrow wasn't the dealer, he reportedly had a bag of marihuana and some cocaine in his possession.
When the Albany County Supreme Court granted Morrow's request to prevent that evidence from being introduced at his criminal trial, prosecutors appealed.
Because officers lacked a reasonable basis to suspect that Morrow had been engaged in any criminal activity (or that he was carrying a weapon), the Appellate Division, Third Department, agreed that suppression of the evidence seized was appropriate. (Apparently, the description provided to officers was "general in nature" and could have applied to "any number of individuals in the area.")
The sun sure came out for him.
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: People v. Morrow