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In Black pastor’s arrest, Alabama Supreme Court rules police can demand to see identification

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In Black pastor’s arrest, Alabama Supreme Court rules police can demand to see identification


MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Ruling in the case of a Black pastor who was arrested while watering his neighbor’s flowers, the Alabama Supreme Court said police can demand to see identification during a stop if they are dissatisfied with a person’s verbal answers.

Justices issued the 6-3 decision last week after a federal judge presiding over a lawsuit about Michael Jennings’ 2022 arrest asked the court to clarify whether officers can demand to see a person’s identification under the state’s “stop-and-identify” law. The minister was arrested when he declined to show Childersburg police identification.

Justice Will Sellers wrote that state law, “does not exclude from its purview a request for physical identification when a suspect provides an incomplete or unsatisfactory response to an officer’s demand to provide his or her name and address and an explanation of his or her action.”

In May 2022, officers questioned Jennings in his neighbor’s yard. Another neighbor had called 911 because she saw an unfamiliar car and a “young Black male” around the house. Officers who responded found Jennings watering flowers and asked what he was doing.

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Jennings identified himself as “Pastor Jennings” and told officers that he lived across the street and was caring for his neighbor’s yard while they were vacationing. Officers asked to see his identification and Jennings refused, saying he hadn’t done anything wrong. The woman who called 911 also later identified Jennings as another neighbor.

Jennings was charged obstructing a government operation. The charge was later dismissed.

Jennings sued the city and the officers for false arrest. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, but the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision. U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor then asked the state Supreme Court to determine whether the state law prohibits an officer from demanding identification if the person gives an incomplete or unsatisfactory response to questions.

Matthew Cavedon, director of the Cato Institute’s Project on Criminal Justice, said the decision is a “significant expansion of government power over people.”

The Cato Institute and the American Civil Liberties Union had written an amicus brief in the case arguing the statute does not authorize any demands for physical identification. Cavedon said the case centers on what happens if a person gives an answer that the officer doesn’t find satisfactory.

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“The significance now for Alabamians is if an officer’s not satisfied with whatever answer you give, I sure hope you’ve got your driver’s license or passport on you,” he said.



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Alabama

Alabama’s Aden Holloway arrested after authorities allegedly found over a pound of marijuana at residence, expected to miss NCAA tournament

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17 hours ago

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March 17, 2026

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Alabama’s Aden Holloway arrested after authorities allegedly found over a pound of marijuana at residence, expected to miss NCAA tournament


With the NCAA tournament just days away, Alabama will likely be without one of its most important players.

Junior guard Aden Holloway was arrested Monday after authorities allegedly found over a pound of marijuana during a narcotics search at a Tuscaloosa residence, according to multiple sources.

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Holloway, 21, was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp. Authorities also found drug paraphernalia and cash during the search.

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Holloway was bonded out of Tuscaloosa County jail at 10:45 a.m. central time, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, with bond set at $5,000.

In a statement shared with multiple reporters, Alabama wrote that Holloway has been removed from campus.

“The University is aware of the allegations and is working to gather more information. The student has been removed from campus pending further investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct,” said the statement.

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Alabama coach Nate Oats addressed Holloway’s arrest on his weekly radio show on Monday night.

“We’ve got standards in our program,” Oats said, via AL.com. “We’ve got ways we’ve held our guys accountable. We try to keep everything in-house. Obviously, some of the situations you can’t, this is one of those. Situation is a little different. When I found out this morning, when we found out what was going on this morning. I found out this morning. I guess it all went down this morning.

“We had to suspend him pending the investigation by the UA office of student conduct. We’re disappointed in his behavior. With that said, we still love him. He’s still our guy. We’re going to get him the help that he needs, and we’re going to continue to help him whatever way we can.”

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First-degree possession of marijuana in Alabama is a Class C felony in the state. If Holloway is convicted, he could face up to 10 years in a state penitentiary and up to a $15,000 fine. He could also receive a six-month driver’s license suspension and have to take mandatory drug-awareness classes, per Polson law firm.

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Failure to affix a tax stamp is a charge applied to illegal drugs that are possessed without state tax having been paid, per patch.com.

Holloway’s arrest comes a day after the Crimson Tide received a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament. The team is set to take on No. 13 Hofstra in the first round of the event Friday.

Holloway’s absence would be a significant loss for Alabama. As a junior, Holloway averaged 16.8 points and 3.8 assists. He was the second-leading scorer on the team, behind sophomore guard Labaron Philon.

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“I thought our guys, at the same time, you know Aden’s one of our guys and everybody wants to wrap their arms around him, everybody makes mistakes in life,” Oats said. “But they also understand that we’ve gotta move on and we’ve got a whole other group of guys, and the team’s got to go play Friday. So, thought we did a good job of that this morning, kind of addressing the situation, what we currently knew at the time, and got our guys focused in practice.”



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Alabama basketball star arrested on marijuana charge days before March Madness tipoff

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1 day ago

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March 16, 2026

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Alabama basketball star arrested on marijuana charge days before March Madness tipoff


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Just days before their start in the NCAA Tournament, the Alabama Crimson Tide is dealing with an off-court legal issue with one of its starting players. 

Guard Aden Holloway was arrested on Monday for possession of marijuana, said Stephanie Taylor, a Tuscaloosa Police Department spokesperson, to the New York Post. 

The spokesperson said more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash were found after agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force conducted a search of a residence on Monday morning. 

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Aden Holloway of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the first half against the Ole Miss Rebels in the quarterfinal game of the 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 13, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

Holloway, 21, was arrested and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp. He was transported to Tuscaloosa County jail on Monday at 9:48 a.m. and later released at 10:45 a.m. His bond was $5,000. 

It is currently unclear if the Crimson Tide will be disciplining Holloway before they take on Hofstra in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Tampa, Florida. 

2026 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SELECTIONS REVEALED

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The Crimson Tide went 23-9 this season, earning them a No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region, where they hope to get off on the right foot against the No. 13 Pride, which went 24-10 this year, at Benchmark International Arena. 

Holloway was a key piece of Alabama’s success this season, averaging 16.8 points per game as the team’s second-leading scorer. His last game, an SEC Tournament quarterfinals loss to Ole Miss last Friday, saw him drop 18 points in the 80-79 defeat. 

Guard Aden Holloway of the Alabama Crimson Tide talks to a referee during the college basketball game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on March 3, 2026, at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, GA. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire)

The Crimson Tide come into the tournament as one of the more successful squads of late, winning nine of their last 11 games. This is the time of year to get hot, and Holloway has played a part in that recent stretch. 

It’s worth noting that, as of June 2024, the NCAA Division I Council removed marijuana from its banned substances list for championships and postseason football. 

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Holloway is in his third season with the Crimson Tide, where he returned to the starting role he had during his freshman year in the 2023-24 campaign. 

Aden Holloway of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the first half of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 28, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

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Holloway shot 48.1% from the field, as well as 43.8% from three-point territory, while dishing out 3.8 assists and grabbing 2.8 rebounds per game. 

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.





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NEW: brick & tin opens 4th Alabama location in Cahaba Heights [PHOTOS] | Bham Now

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2 days ago

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March 16, 2026

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NEW: brick & tin opens 4th Alabama location in Cahaba Heights [PHOTOS] | Bham Now


brick & tin Cahaba Heights. (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

brick & tin, the popular restaurant known for its farm-to-table approach, opened on March 13 in Cahaba Heights. 

Located at 3151 Green Valley Rd in the Market Square Shopping Center, the new spacious eatery which contains a bar, patio and bakery and is open daily from 10:30AM to 8:00PM.

All of brick & tin’s favorites were on the new Cahaba Heights menu this past Saturday when we paid the new location a visit, including:

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  • Brisket panini (named best sandwich in Alabama by Big 7 Travel)
  • Bluebird salad
  • Sauteed salmon
  • Mushroom and Butternut soups
  • Fresh baked bread and desserts

4th brick & tin location

brick & tin’s sandwich, “the Brisket” has been named the best in Alabama by Big 7 Travel. (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

Founded in 2010 by former Highlands Bar and Grill chef de cuisine Mauricio Papapietro, brick & tin recently expanded its culinary footprint to Huntsville in late 2025. The new spot in the fast growing Vestavia Cahaba Heights neighborhood is their fourth location. 

They include:

What’s your favorite brick & tin menu item? Tell us on social media in the comment section at @bhamnow

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Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama’s Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama’s cancer risk and mercury standards.

Articles: 3111





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