Case ID: ad3d_23/html/0151-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

First Department,
    November, 2005
    (November 1, 2005)
    The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Gerald Hall, Appellant.
    [802 NYS2d 691]
   Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Gregory Carro, J.), rendered March 26, 2003, convicting defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to a term of three years, unanimously affirmed.

Defendant’s suppression motion was properly denied. The evidence establishes that the police had reasonable suspicion justifying their seizure of defendant, who met a detailed description of a man carrying a gun. The information the police relied on came from a source that was not anonymous, but rather had identifying characteristics that rendered it reliable, including a partial name and callback number (see People v Herold, 282 AD2d 1, 5-6 [2001], lv denied 97 NY2d 682 [2001]; compare Florida v J.L., 529 US 266 [2000]). Furthermore, this information was corroborated by defendant’s conduct, which was suggestive of criminality. When the officer confronted defendant in a store, defendant turned toward the officer while moving his hand toward his waistband (see People v Benjamin, 51 NY2d 267, 270-271 [1980]; People v Jenkins, 292 AD2d 188 [2002], lv denied 98 NY2d 711 [2002]). Accordingly, the officer lawfully grabbed defendant’s hand as a self-protective measure, and, in doing so, observed a knife in defendant’s waistband. This observation led to the lawful recovery of the knife and other contraband. Concur—Buckley, P.J., Tom, Mazzarelli, Marlow and Catterson, JJ.