People v. Coles

104 Misc. 2d 333, 428 N.Y.S.2d 412, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2275
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedMay 15, 1980
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 104 Misc. 2d 333 (People v. Coles) 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. Coles, 104 Misc. 2d 333, 428 N.Y.S.2d 412, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2275 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1980).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Arthur E. Blyn, J.

An indictment has been filed against the defendant accusing him of two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. The charges are that on or about February 28, 1980, in the County of New York, the defendant possessed two loaded firearms, one a .38 caliber S & W pistol and a .32 caliber H & R pistol, said possession not being in defendant’s home or place of business.

Defendant, alleging that the weapons and the rounds contained therein were seized in violation of his constitutional rights, has moved to suppress such physical evidence. More particularly, in his moving papers, defendant alleges that police officers broke into the apartment without a warrant under no exigent circumstances, nor did they identify themselves and they had no consent to enter the apartment. Further, it is alleged that defendant was searched without probable cause on the basis that no contraband was visible.

The People claim, in essence, that the police officers possessed probable cause and were authorized to enter the subject premises without a warrant — that viewing the totality of the circumstances their conduct was more than reasonable.

The People have the burden, in the first instance, of going forward to show the legality of the conduct of the police while the defendant bears the ultimate burden of proving that the physical evidence should be suppressed by a preponderance of the evidence.

A Mapp hearing was held before this court on May 1, 1980. The sole witness, called by the People, was Detective Edward Berrigan. The court gives credence to his testimony.

The court makes the following findings of fact.

On February 28, 1980, at approximately 6:40 p.m., a civilian, one Sharod Sabb, came into the 26th Precinct and had a conversation with Detective Berrigan, assigned to that precinct and working that evening. Mr. Sabb was a black male approximately 30 years of age. He was dressed in a neat and clean shirt, with something over it, and a pair of dungarees. He appeared to have been drinking as Detective Berrigan [336]*336smelled alcohol on his breath. In the opinion of Berrigan he did not appear to be intoxicated as he could walk steadily and expressed himself in a cogent manner. Berrigan had never seen Sabb before nor was he an informant. In addition to giving his name Mr. Sabb gave his address, his date of birth, his Social Security number, and the name, address and telephone number of his employer.

For the next 20 minutes, while Detective Berrigan took notes, Mr. Sabb proceeded to relate the following sequence of events.

On February 27, 1980, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Mr. Sabb met a person known to him as Rick or Bob, whom he gave a detailed description of, on Broadway and 145th Street. The two men pooled their money and purchased vodka after which they went to the Hamilton Hotel, 30 Hamilton Place, near Broadway and 138th-139th Streets. They went to room 601 in the hotel where Mr. Sabb encountered a person he referred to as the fat fag. Mr. Sabb drank in room 601 and at approximately 2:30 a.m. on February 28, 1980 a black male entered the room carrying a green shoulder bag. The contents thereof were revealed, approximately 15 handguns, which were placed on a table. Other persons came into the room unknown to Mr. Sabb. He fell asleep at approximately 4:00 a.m., at which time the defendant was not present in the room. Mr. Sabb awoke at approximately 3:30 p.m. on February 28, 1980 and left room 601 in the hotel to go purchase some beer. He returned at approximately 5:00 p.m. Upon his return he saw a person, later identified as the defendant. Mr. Sabb gave the following description: a black male, 5 feet 6 inches tall, wearing brown pants and sneakers. An argument ensued between Mr. Sabb and the defendant at the conclusion of which the defendant pulled a silver revolver and said "I don’t like you nigger”. Mr. Sabb turned around and heard what he thought was a shot. Mr. Sabb quickly left room 601 and the hotel at which time he hailed a passing patrol car, from another precinct, which dropped him off in front of the 26th Precinct on 126th Street.

After Detective Berrigan’s conversation with Mr. Sabb, none of the information given having been verified, Detective Berrigan notified his superiors and from 7:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. he conferred with his immediate supervisor, a Sergeant Breen. From 7:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. consultations were had between [337]*337Detective Berrigan and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.

Detective Berrigan and Sergeant Breen decided to bring the emergency service officers in on the operation. They were called at approximately 7:30 p.m. and arrived five minutes later, at which time Mr. Sabb was present. A 20-minute consultation ensued between Sergeant Breen and his men and the emergency service officers as to what strategy would be adopted upon reaching the Hamilton Hotel. Some eight policemen, including the emergency service people, and Mr. Sabb then departed for the Hamilton Hotel.

The hotel is located on Hamilton Place between 138th and 139th Streets where the group arrived at approximately 8:00 p.m. The building was described as having 10 plus floors. Upon arrival the officers surveyed the building for possible escape areas, etc. Upon entry into the premises a discussion was had with the desk clerk wherein he was told not to touch the telephone and inquiry was made of him to confirm the lack of outside fire escapes on the premises. The group proceeded up to the sixth floor which had a long hallway with doors to several rooms or apartments.

The group approached room 601 the door to which was closed and was described as being made of metal and/or wood. Voices were heard coming from the door but details of conversation could not be heard. It was between 8:25 and 8:30 p.m. when Detective Berrigan first knocked on the door, with a series of knocks lasting 10 seconds. There was no response but he continued to hear voices coming from the door. At that point Detective Berrigan knocked again, a second series of knocks lasting 10 seconds. From behind the door a voice, unable to be identified as to whether it was a male or female, said "who is it?” Detective Berrigan replied "police!” Someone came to the door, who Detective Berrigan could not see, and opened it partially, approximately one foot. When the door was so opened Detective Berrigan could not hear any voices or movement. Detective Berrigan backed away from the door and the two emergency service policemen put their shoulders to the door and opened it completely entering the premises with shotguns in ready position. In words or substance they said "don’t move”.

No policeman asked for permission or authority to enter the room or go through the door.

Room 601 of the Hamilton Hotel was described as having a [338]*338short hallway as one enters, approximately six feet long, which then opens up to a 12 foot by 15 foot single room with windows, tables, a refrigerator and stove with two doors inside the room.

The first time Detective Berrigan saw the defendant was when he, the detective, was in the aforesaid six-foot-long hallway at which time he observed the defendant standing erect at the opposite end of the room to the detective’s extreme righthand side. Defendant was approximately 12 feet away from the detective when he first saw him and Berrigan at that point did not observe any other people in the room.

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Related

People v. Johnson
114 Misc. 2d 578 (New York Supreme Court, 1982)
People v. Ocasio
106 Misc. 2d 138 (New York County Courts, 1980)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
104 Misc. 2d 333, 428 N.Y.S.2d 412, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2275, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-coles-nysupct-1980.