City of Albany v. Crawford

SPINDEN, Presiding Judge.

The city of Albany appeals the circuit court’s decision to suppress evidence that 19-year-old James Michael Crawford possessed beer in violation of its ordinance prohibiting anyone under the age of 21 from possessing alcoholic beverages. Because the city did not prove an essential element of the crime, we affirm the circuit court’s judgment finding Crawford not guilty.

On June 13, 1997, Officer Charles E. Moore, of Albany’s police department, saw Crawford driving a car in Albany. Moore wanted to talk to Crawford about a shoplifting incident, so he followed Crawford to…