Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Jesus Woods, Appellant
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1984-12-27
Citations: 64 N.Y.2d 736
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Jesus Woods, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 64
Pages: 736–738

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Jesus Woods, Appellant.
Decided December 27, 1984
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Gordon Ludwig for appellant.
Mario Merola, District Attorney (Harold K. King, Jr., of counsel), for respondent.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.
In view of the findings of fact that the officers had reasonable grounds to fear for their safety, it cannot be said that they were unjustified in drawing their handguns as a precautionary measure when they approached defendant in his automobile. (See People v Chestnut, 51 NY2d 14, 21.) Nor was it unreasonable, in light of his past experience with defendant, for one of the officers to pat defendant in the chest area when defendant quickly reached toward the breast area of his jacket, and for that officer, upon feeling a hard object, to reach inside the jacket and retrieve it. (See People v Benjamin, 51 NY2d 267, 271; Pennsylvania v Mimms, 434 US 106,111-112.) Nor can we conclude, as a matter of law, that the police perpetrated a pretext stop or arrest.
We have examined defendant's other contentions and find them to be without merit.
Chief Judge Cooke' and Judges Jasen, Jones, Wachtler, Meyer, Simons and Kaye concur.
On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.4 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.4), order affirmed in a memorandum.