State v. Matthews

¶ 1. The determinative issue on this appeal is whether police officers may, in order to find out what's "afoot," see Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 30 (1968), stop and question a person wearing a ski mask and hoodie they see late at night in a high-crime area near a woman who was walking away from the hooded and masked person and who appeared to be frightened. The circuit court held that they may not. On our de novo review of the circuit court's legal conclusions, we disagree. Accordingly, we reverse.

¶ 2. This is the State's appeal from the circuit court's order suppressing cocaine, marijuana,…