Suspect Handcuffed at Parole Office Was Unlawfully Detained
Generally, if a suspect is held in custody for a crime without either probable
cause or a reasonable suspicion that the suspect committed a crime, such
a detention will be considered unlawful. Even if a suspect is advised of his
Miranda rights in such a situation, any evidence gathered during the unlawful
detention may not be admissible in court.
The New York Supreme Court, Kings County case of
People v. Rivera involved such a situation, where the defendant was facing
felony charges based on an alleged confession.
A Suspect “Not Under Arrest” . . . Is Handcuffed and Held
After a shooting in a multiple dwelling building in Kings County, an informant
suggested to a detective that a person named “Joey” might
be responsible. The information was based on “what everyone else
was saying” in the neighborhood and not on personal knowledge. It
was unclear how this led to the defendant, whose name was Jose.
Nevertheless, the detective contacted the defendant’s parole officer
and asked for a “parole hold,” meaning the defendant would
be held until the detective arrived. When the detective arrived, the defendant
was sitting handcuffed to a chair.
The officer told the defendant he was not under arrest, but did again place
him in handcuffs and transported him to the precinct in the back seat
of his squad car. The defendant was taken to an interrogation room which
was bolted closed. The defendant was held in the room alone for more than
an hour before the officer read the defendant his
Miranda rights. The officer also presented a false photo array that made it appear
that the defendant had been identified as the shooter. Shortly after the
interrogation began, the defendant admitted he was the shooter.
The defendant moved to suppress the statements he had made to police, arguing
that his interrogation was unlawful and even his statements after being
given his
Miranda warnings were tainted by the unlawful detention.
Was This an Illegal Detention?
The New York Supreme Court, Kings County noted that the police did not
have either probable cause or even a reasonable suspicion to hold the
defendant; only speculation and rumor. Yet, when the officer told the
defendant he was “going back to the precinct,” it was a mandatory
direction.
The fact the officer said the defendant was not under arrest still did
not mean that a reasonable person would have understood that he was free
to leave. In fact, the defendant was immediately handcuffed again at the
parole office and escorted in handcuffs to the precinct where he was placed
in a locked room. In addition, the defendant had been handcuffed at the
parole office for approximately a half hour before the officers even arrived.
Under the totality of circumstances, a reasonable person in the defendant’s
position would not have believed that he or she was free to leave, and
there were no intervening events before his alleged confession which removed
the taint of the illegal detention. Thus, the defendant’s motion
to suppress the evidence related to the
criminal charges was granted.
Severe Penalties
If you are charged with a serious felony, you may be facing severe mandatory
penalties. Selecting the right attorney, who can carefully review the
evidence and legal issues surrounding your case, is vital to protecting
your rights and freedom. Seek an attorney who can provide you with realistic
advice to help you decide how best to proceed in your situation.
