Court Says Anonymous Tips Need Corroboration

In an unanimous opinion yesterday, the Tennessee Supreme Court set aside the conviction of Guy Alvin Williamson for possession of a handgun while under the influence of alcohol because police did not corroborate an anonymous tip before stopping and frisking him. Citing the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Florida v. J.L., the Tennessee court said that an anonymous call alone does not provide the requisite degree of reasonable suspicion to justify such an action. Read more from the court or download the opinion