People v. Dallas

865 N.E.2d 1, 8 N.Y.3d 890, 832 N.Y.S.2d 893

• Court: New York Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 22, 2007
• Status: Published

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the County Court should be affirmed.

Defendant challenges a search of his apartment conducted under the “emergency” doctrine. We stated the elements of that doctrine in People v Mitchell (39 NY2d 173, 177-178 [1976]) as follows:

“(1) The police must have reasonable grounds to believe that there is an emergency at hand and an immediate need for their assistance for the protection of life or property.

“(2) The search must not be primarily motivated by intent to arrest and seize evidence.

“(3) There must be some reasonable basis, approximating probable cause, to associate the emergency with the area or place to be searched.”

The applicability of the emergency doctrine “involves a mixed question of law and fact” (People v Molnar, 98 NY2d 328, 335 [2002]). The courts below found that the three elements required by Mitchell were present, and their determination is supported by the record. Thus, “any further review is beyond this Court’s jurisdiction” {id.). We have no occasion to consider whether our holding in Mitchell should be modified in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Brigham City v Stuart (547 US —, 126 S Ct 1943 [2006]).

Chief Judge Kaye and Judges Ciparick, Graffeo, Read, Smith and Pigott concur; Judge Jones taking no part.

Order affirmed in a memorandum.