People v. Bloom

• Decision Date: 03 July 1997
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Albert Tyrone BLOOM, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 380

661 N.Y.S.2d 380

241 A.D.2d 975

PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Albert Tyrone BLOOM, Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division Fourth Department.

July 3, 1997.

Joseph Frazier, Lockport, for Appellant.

Kevin Finnell, Special Prosecutor, Batavia, for Respondent.

Before GREEN, J.P., and LAWTON, DOERR, BOEHM and FALLON, JJ.

MEMORANDUM.

County Court erred in denying the motion to suppress physical evidence seized from defendant following his warrantless arrest at his residence. "[S]earches and seizures inside a home without a warrant are presumptively unreasonable" (Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 586, 100 S.Ct. 1371, 63 L.Ed.2d 639), and the People did not meet their burden of overcoming that presumption (see, People v. Vennor, 176 A.D.2d 1217, 1218, 577 N.Y.S.2d 189; People v. Cruz, 149 A.D.2d 151, 159-160, 545 N.Y.S.2d 561). The record does not support the court's determination that exigent circumstances justified the failure of the police to obtain a warrant. "There was certainly no evidence that the police were in hot pursuit of a fleeing felon" (People v. Ramos, 206 A.D.2d 260, 261, 613 N.Y.S.2d 870); the robbery occurred approximately 21 hours before the police observed defendant enter his residence. There is also no indication that defendant was aware of the presence of the police and therefore likely to escape or destroy evidence (see, People v. Ramos, supra, at 261, 613 N.Y.S.2d 870; People v. Vennor, supra, at 1218, 577 N.Y.S.2d 189; People v. Kilgore, 170 A.D.2d 1008, 566 N.Y.S.2d 425). The weapons used in the robbery had been recovered and there was no evidence that defendant was armed (see, People v. Ramos, supra, at 261, 613 N.Y.S.2d 870). Finally, the Chief of Police acknowledged that he could have obtained a warrant while other officers surrounded the house (see, People v. Ramos, supra, at 262, 613 N.Y.S.2d 870; People v. Vennor, supra, at 1218, 577 N.Y.S.2d 189).

Reversal is not required, however, because admission of the illegally obtained evidence is harmless error. The proof of guilt is overwhelming, and there is no reasonable possibility that admission of the fruits of the illegal arrest contributed to the conviction (see, People v. Williams, 78 A.D.2d 558, 432 N.Y.S.2d 14, lv denied 52 N.Y.2d 839; see also, People v. Rivas, 214 A.D.2d 996, 626 N.Y.S.2d 640, lv denied 86 N.Y.2d 801, 632 N.Y.S.2d 514, 656 N.E.2d 613).

We reject the contention that defendant's right to be present at all material stages of the trial was violated when the court, with counsel present, conducted a hearing in defendant's absence on the possible disqualification of a sworn juror (see, People v. Aguilera, 82 N.Y.2d 23, 34, 603 N.Y.S.2d 392, 623 N.E.2d 519; People v. Torres, 80 N.Y.2d 944, 945, 590 N.Y.S.2d 867, 605 N.E.2d 354, rearg. denied 81 N.Y.2d 784, 594 N.Y.S.2d 721, 610 N.E.2d 394; People v. Mardis, 190 A.D.2d 866, 867, 594 N.Y.S.2d 275, lv denied 81 N.Y.2d 1076, 601 N.Y.S.2d 595, 619 N.E.2d 673). The record does not support the further contention that defendant was denied his right to be present during the portion of voir dire conducted in chambers and at sidebar conferences with prospective jurors.

Defendant failed to preserve for our review his...