People v. Caicedo

69 A.D.3d 954, 893 N.Y.2d 609

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: January 26, 2010
• Status: Published

Opinion

In order to justify a frisk or “pat-down” of a suspect’s outer clothing, a police officer must have “knowledge of some fact or circumstance that supports a reasonable suspicion that the suspect is armed or poses a threat to safety” (People v Batista, 88 NY2d 650, 654 [1996]; see People v De Bour, 40 NY2d 210, 223 [1976]; CPL 140.50 [1], [3]). Contrary to the defendant’s contention, the police officer who attempted to pat down his right jacket pocket had reason to suspect that he was armed (see People v Mims, 32 AD3d 800 [2006]; People v Robinson, 278 AD2d 808, 809 [2000]; People v Pettis, 195 AD2d 421, 422 [1993]). Accordingly, the judicial hearing officer properly denied that branch of the defendant’s motion which was to suppress the gun, the magazine, and the bullet cartridges which he discarded after fleeing from the officer.

We decline the defendant’s request to reduce the sentence imposed on the criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree count in the exercise of our interest of justice jurisdiction (see CPL 470.15 [3] [c]; People v Martinez, 58 AD3d 754, 756 [2009]). Rivera, J.R, Dillon, Belen and Roman, JJ., concur.