Summary
In Matter of Ronald C., 107 AD2d 1053 [4th Dept. 1985], the Appellate Division applied the holding of People v. Dunaway to juvenile delinquency proceedings.
Summary of this case from In Matter of Londell S.Opinion
January 29, 1985
Appeal from the Erie County Family Court, Sedita, J.
Present — Dillon, P.J., Boomer, Green, O'Donnell and Schnepp, JJ.
Order unanimously reversed, on the law and facts, and petition dismissed, without costs. Memorandum: This is an appeal from an order of Family Court adjudicating the respondent a juvenile delinquent based upon a finding that he committed acts which, if done by an adult, would constitute the crime of criminal mischief in the fourth degree (Penal Law, § 145.00, subd 1) and possession of burglar's tools (Penal Law, § 140.35). Respondent, 13 years of age, along with three other youths, was observed playing a Pac-Man video game in a pizzeria. The owner of the store subsequently discovered that the change door of the video machine was broken. When respondent was questioned about whether he caused the damage to the machine, he and his friends ran down the street and were thereafter arrested by a juvenile-aid police officer. The officer arrested the four boys and transported them to the police station. While respondent was being detained and interrogated, an officer discovered two screwdrivers and a bag of vegetable matter on the floor of the patrol car in which the boys were transported to the police station. An officer came into the room where respondent was being held and dropped the items on a desk directly in front of the respondent. Respondent said "the screwdrivers are mine, but the other isn't." The statement was admitted into evidence at respondent's fact-finding hearing over objection by his counsel that it was the product of an unlawful detention not based on probable cause, and secured while respondent was being interrogated in the absence of his parents and without having been advised of his Miranda rights.
The statement should not have been admitted. Juveniles are entitled to the same due process of law as adults (see Matter of Gregory W., 19 N.Y.2d 55, 61). The police may not seize a suspect, transport him to a police station and detain him for custodial interrogation without probable cause (see Dunaway v. New York, 442 U.S. 200). Respondent was seized when he was stopped on the street and forced into the police car (see Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 16). At that time, there was no objective evidence that respondent had committed a crime. No one observed him either damage the video machine or possess the screwdrivers. The three other youths had equal access to the video machine at all times the respondent was present in the pizzeria. Thus, the arrest of respondent was not based on probable cause (see People v Carrasquillo, 54 N.Y.2d 248; People v. Oden, 36 N.Y.2d 382; People v. Brown, 24 N.Y.2d 421, 423). Moreover, once the respondent was taken into custody, the police did not act in accordance with section 305.2 FCT of the Family Court Act (see Matter of Aaron D., 30 A.D.2d 183) because the statement was obtained in the absence of respondent's parents (Family Ct Act, § 305.2, subds 3, 4) and without the benefit of Miranda warnings (Family Ct Act, § 305.2, subd 7). Lastly, the statement should not have been admitted because given the fact that respondent was only 13 years of age and unaccompanied by his parents or counsel, the police should have known that their action in placing the screwdrivers in front of respondent was reasonably likely to elicit from him an incriminating response (see Rhode Is. v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 301). Thus, the statement should not have been admitted because the police did not honor respondent's right against self incrimination (see People v. Ferro, 63 N.Y.2d 316).
Moreover, a review of the record shows that the proof at trial was insufficient to support either the charge of possession of burglar's tools or criminal mischief.