Opinion
May 27, 1994
Appeal from the Monroe County Court, Connell, J.
Present — Green, J.P., Lawton, Fallon, Doerr and Boehm, JJ.
Judgment unanimously reversed on the law, plea vacated, motion to suppress granted in part and matter remitted to Monroe County Court for further proceedings on indictment. Memorandum: The motion to suppress items of tangible property, on the ground that they were illegally seized from defendant's vehicle, cast a burden on the People to come forward with evidence showing the legality of the police conduct (see, People v. Pettinato, 69 N.Y.2d 653, 654; People v. Dodt, 61 N.Y.2d 408; People v. Mercado, 197 A.D.2d 898). The record of the suppression hearing contains no evidence concerning the circumstances of the seizure, nor is there any evidence showing what was seized from the vehicle. Because the People failed to present any witness with first-hand knowledge of the police conduct, the proof was insufficient to meet their burden. Thus, defendant's motion to suppress items of tangible property should have been granted (see, People v. Gonzalez, 80 N.Y.2d 883, 885; People v. Pettinato, supra; People v. Mercado, supra; see also, People v. Parris, 83 N.Y.2d 342).
The record does not support the contention of defendant that the statement identifying his companion was obtained in violation of his right to counsel. Defendant's motion to suppress that statement, therefore, was properly denied.