Opinion
March 15, 1999
Appeal from the County Court, Suffolk County (Weber, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is reversed, on the law and the facts, those branches of the defendant's omnibus motion which were to suppress physical evidence and statements made by him to law enforcement officials are granted, and a new trial is ordered.
At approximately 9:00 P.M. on August 21, 1996, Police Officer Robert Nisi responded to a radio transmission of a residential burglary. The complainant described the perpetrators as two black males wearing dark clothing. The officer left the house and patrolled the area for about a half hour, but did not observe anyone. He then left the immediate vicinity in response to another call in his sector.
At approximately 9:45 P.M., as he was crossing over railroad tracks located between 1/4 and 9/10 of a mile from the scene of the burglary, Officer Nisi saw two men walking along the tracks. Believing that they were in violation of some unspecified "Long Island Rail Road law" or that they were trespassing, the officer parked his car and began walking toward the men. When he was about 50 feet away, the two men began to run. Officer Nisi identified himself, directed them not to move and shined his flashlight on them. He chased the men, but lost sight of them when they ran into an area heavy with brush.
During his pursuit, Officer Nisi radioed for assistance. Several units responded, including an officer from the canine unit. The officer and his dog first located the defendant's companion and then the defendant. Both men, black males wearing dark clothing, were placed under arrest. After the defendant was taken into custody, the officer from the canine unit continued tracking with his dog and retrieved a pair of gloves nearby.
Detective James Masterson was assigned to investigate the burglary that evening. While at the complainant's home, he learned that two men had been apprehended and proceeded to that location. After the detective advised the defendant of his Miranda rights, the defendant stated that he came from Brooklyn to do burglaries with his companion. Later at the precinct when the defendant was being processed, he made additional statements.
The defendant correctly contends that the hearing court erred in concluding that the police had probable cause to arrest him. Contrary to the hearing court's finding that Detective Masterson arrested the defendant, the hearing testimony clearly established that the defendant was arrested before Masterson arrived on the scene ( see, People v. White, 117 A.D.2d 127, 130). At that time, the police lacked probable cause for the arrest. The defendant and his companion, who matched the very vague description of the perpetrators, were first seen approximately 45 minutes after the burglary simply walking along railroad tracks ( see, People v. White, supra; People v. Riddick, 110 A.D.2d 787; People v. Lane, 102 A.D.2d 829; People v. Gordon, 87 A.D.2d 636). Although evidence of flight, when considered together with other indicia of criminal activity, is an important factor in determining probable cause ( see, People v. Howard, 50 N.Y.2d 583, 592, cert denied 449 U.S. 1023), the rather innocuous conduct of the defendant and his companion and the fact that they matched an extremely vague description of the perpetrators were not sufficiently indicative of criminal activity. Consequently, the information possessed by the police, considered together with the defendant's flight, did not justify the defendant's immediate arrest without conducting any inquiry ( see, People v. Dossantos, 137 A.D.2d 763; People v. White, supra; People v. Riddick, supra). Therefore, the defendant's statements and the evidence seized must be suppressed ( see, People v. Riddick, supra; People v. Lane, supra; People v. Gordon, supra).
In light of our determination, it is unnecessary to address the defendant's remaining contentions.
Bracken, J. P., Sullivan, Altman and Friedmann, JJ., concur.