People v. Alston

79 Misc. 2d 586, 360 N.Y.S.2d 768, 1974 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1714
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 16, 1974
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 79 Misc. 2d 586 (People v. Alston) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Alston, 79 Misc. 2d 586, 360 N.Y.S.2d 768, 1974 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1714 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1974).

Opinion

William Kapelmast, J.

This is a motion made by the defendant pursuant to CPL 710.20 (subds. 1, 3) for an order: (1) suppressing the seizure of tangible property, to wit: two pairs of pants, three shirts, and one pair of boots, which were taken by the police from 1125 East 229 Drive, Bronx County, on January 23, 1973, and for an order (2) suppressing certain oral statements allegedly made by the defendant to detectives of the New York City Police Department on January 24, 1973 and statements allegedly made on January 26, 1973 to a probation officer of the City of New York. The court, pursuant to CPL [588]*588710.60 (subd. 6), now sets forth the following findings of fact, its conclusions of law, and the reasons for its determination.

At the hearing on this two-pronged motion the witnesses were Detective James Sloan, Sergeant John Hogan, Mrs. Mary Alston, Robert Bryant, Assistant District Attorney Louis Mazzone, Detective Ronald Marsenison, and Probation Officer Stephen Reinisch. In addition, two stipulations were entered on the record by the Assistant District Attorney and counsel for the defendant. This court will now summarize the testimony of the various witnesses at this hearing on the issues presented to this court.

Detective James Sloan testified that he was assigned to the investigation into the death of Mrs. Bea Wunsch on January 22, 1973 and that he went to the James Monroe High School in Bronx County that evening and again on January 23, 1973. Sloan further testified that he spoke to Robert Bryant, the defendant’s brother, on the 23d and learned where the defendant lived. This detective then testified that on January 23, at about 6:00 p.m. he and four other detectives went to 1125 East 229 Drive, Bronx County, and that he was accompanied to the apartment of the defendant by Detectives Marsenison and Sheridan. Sloan testified that a small child answered the door after which the three detectives were admitted into the apartment by Mrs. Mary Alston, the mother of the defendant. Sloan testified further .that the three policemen came into the living room and sat down. Sloan testified that in addition to the detectives, there were three other persons present: a child, the grandmother, and Mrs. Alston. Sloan testified further that during conversation with Mrs. Alston concerning her son’s movements and the clothing he wore the previous day, Mrs. Alston told him that the defendant, after coming home on Monday, had washed his clothes. Sloan testified that when he inquired as to where the defendant’s clothing was that had been washed, Mrs. Alston showed him where the clothing was. Sloan then testified that he observed the clothes piled on top of a broken dresser in a bedroom. He further testified that Mrs. Alston said: “Here are his clothes. If you want them you can have them. I have nothing to hide. ” When Detective Sloan was in the room he saw a pair of boots next to this dresser. Sloan testified that he asked her were those the boots that her son wore the previous day. Sloan testified that Mrs. Alston replied: “ If you want them you can have them. ’ ’ The detective also testified that Mrs. Alston handed him the clothes and that he, Sloan, picked up the boots from the floor. Sloan [589]*589testified further that he offered to give Mrs. Alston a receipt for the items hut that she declined it. Sloan further testified that at no time did he search the bedroom and, further, that he took the items to the 43d precinct and later the following morning he went to'the medical examiner’s office to have the items analyzed. Detective Sloan conceded that he did not have a search warrant when he came into possession of the boots and articles of clothing on January 23,1973.

Mrs. Mary Alston, the mother of the defendant, testified that the defendant lived with her all his life and that, on January 23, 1973 after 6:00 p.m., there was a knock on her door. She further testified that when she went to the ‘ ‘ peephole ’ ’ she saw one or two people. She testified that when she opened the door she asked the police to come in. She testified that five to seven police officers entered her apartment and asked her about her son Gary and the clothes he wore the previous day. Mrs. Alston testified that while she was talking in the living room with the police, some of them began to walk about her apartment and that some were searching in the bathroom and children’s closet. Mrs. Alston testified that, when the conversation centered on the defendant’s clothes, she told the police that the clothes her son washed were on a line in the bathroom. Mrs. Alston said that when the police went into the bathroom they exited with not only the defendant’s clothes but also a pair of her daughter’s blue jeans. Mrs. Alston testified further that the police gave her back that pair of jeans.

Mrs. Alston said that her son’s boots were in the closet in his room because that morning she had cleaned his room and had placed the boots in the closet. Mrs. Alston testified that she did not accompany any of the officers to the bathroom where the clothes were hung, or to the bedroom closet where the boots had been.

Mrs. Alston further testified that her son’s wallet and his personal papers therein were examined by the police. Mrs. Alston said that, while she did say that the police could examine thé clothes, she did not give them permission to take either her son’s clothes or the boots from her apartment and that her son’s clothes were not on top of the dresser in his bedroom. Mrs. Alston also testified that as the police left the apartment she was handed a paper containing a telephone number and was told to have her son telephone the police when he arrived home.

During cross-examination of this witness, the court received in evidence the testimony of this witness before the Grand Jury, [590]*590for the purpose of impeachment concerning (1) those present in the apartment at the time the police arrived on January 23; (2) telephone conversations by the witness with Judy or Valerie; (3) what the witness said to the police concerning the taking of the defendant’s clothing; and (4) the location of that clothing.

The court also received testimony by Assistant District Attorney Louis Mazzone concerning what Mrs. Alston said in his presence to Assistant District Attorney Dembin on September 20, 1974. Mr. Mazzone testified that on September 20, 1974 between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. in the District Attorney’s office he heard Mrs. Alston state to Mr. Dembin that she gave the detectives the clothes and boots because she had nothing to hide. Further, that she “ gave them permission,” presumably to have them.

It was thereafter stipulated by and between counsel that Mrs. Alston was not interviewed by Assistant District Attorney Dembin on September 20, 1974 but on September 23, 1974 after 2:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Detective Ronald Marsenison was also called as a witness. He testified that on January 23,1973 he and four other detectives went to 1125 East 229 Drive, Bronx County, to Apartment 2D about 6:00 p.m. He further testified that Detectives Sloan, Sheridan, Graham and Alexander went with him to the building. Detective Marsenison testified that he, Sloan and Sheridan were admitted into the apartment after a small child answered the door and after the child called the mother, Mary Alston, to the door. Detective Marsenison further testified that Detectives Graham and Alexander did not enter the apartment until about one hour had elapsed and after the clothing and boots had been given to Detective Sloan.

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Related

State v. Roberts
544 P.2d 754 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1976)

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Bluebook (online)
79 Misc. 2d 586, 360 N.Y.S.2d 768, 1974 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1714, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-alston-nysupct-1974.