People v Wright

Holding The court affirmed the conviction, holding that the police pursuit of the defendant was justified by reasonable suspicion arising from his flight combined with the specific circumstances of a recent gunshot and his attempt to conceal an object. The court further determined that the police’s initial instruction to stop and show hands was a permissible common-law approach, as evidence did not support the claim that officers had their guns drawn at that time.

The court’s words

the police may forcibly stop or pursue an individual if they have information which, although not yielding the probable cause necessary to justify an arrest, provides them with a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been, is being, or is about to be committed

2026 NY Slip Op 04580, at the official text

Flight alone, however, or even in conjunction with equivocal circumstances that might justify a police request for information . . . , is insufficient to justify pursuit because an individual has a right 'to be let alone' and refuse to respond to police inquiry

2026 NY Slip Op 04580, at the official text

In determining whether a pursuit was justified by reasonable suspicion, the emphasis should not be narrowly focused on . . . any . . . single factor, but [rather] on an evaluation of the totality of circumstances, which takes into account the realities of everyday life unfolding before a trained officer

2026 NY Slip Op 04580, at the official text

his flight when lawfully approached by the police justified the ensuing pursuit, inasmuch as it was 'combined with other specific circumstances indicating that the suspect may be engaged in criminal activity' that were known to the police at the time that defendant fled

2026 NY Slip Op 04580, at the official text

the record simply does not support defendant's assertion that, as he exited his vehicle, a police officer had his gun drawn and pointed at defendant when he told defendant to stop and show his hands

2026 NY Slip Op 04580, at the official text