Opinion
March 12, 1991
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Stephen Crane, J.).
Defendant's motion to suppress physical evidence was properly denied. At approximately 3:00 A.M. on October 30, 1988, Susan Schiffman heard suspicious noises and voices at her neighbor's apartment door. Knowing this neighbor was vacationing, and after calling his apartment and not receiving a response, she called the police. The arresting officer discovered defendant and an accomplice crouched behind a cardboard box in a stairway leading to the roof; the accomplice carried an axe.
Any possible innocent interpretation of the unfolding events disappeared when defendant and Sanchez attacked the officer. Clearly, defendant's arrest was supported by probable cause. (People v McRay, 51 N.Y.2d 594.)
Concur — Sullivan, J.P., Milonas, Rosenberger, Asch and Smith, JJ.