Observing a “Bulge” Did Not Justify Forcible Detention

The Second Department reversed defendant’s conviction, finding that the police officer’s observation of a bulge did not justify forcible detention:

…[T]he arresting officer did not have reasonable suspicion to believe that the defendant had committed or was about to commit a crime … . The officer briefly observed what he initially characterized only as a “bulge” on the right side of the defendant’s pants. Despite this initial characterization, the officer later testified that he thought he had observed a holster, which turned out to be a buckle attached to the right side of the defendant’s pants. This observation, without more, was not sufficient to permit the officer to forcibly detain the defendant … . Accordingly, the physical evidence recovered from the defendant as a consequence of the unlawful detention and arrest should have been suppressed… . People v Severino, 2015 NY Slip Op 02509, 2nd Dept 3-25-15