People v. Turman

In prosecution on charge of failing to register as sex offender as required under Sex Offender Registration Act, Dist. Ct. did not err in denying defendant’s motion to suppress evidence that police officers obtained after defendant was approached and detained on street. Record showed that officer had reasonable suspicion to stop and question defendant, where officer testified that: (1) she approached defendant while she was investigating recent report of armed robbery; (2) culprit was described as five feet, six inches, black male of medium build wearing blue jeans and black hooded sweatshirt; (3) she came on scene 30 minutes after report and observed defendant 1.5 blocks from reported crime scene wearing blue jeans, black jacket and black hood sweatshirt and having same general physical description as culprit. While defendant argued that instant stop and investigatory detention was not supported by reasonable suspicion because instant description of culprit could have been applied to many individuals, Appellate Court found that instant stop and detention was supported by reasonable suspicion given short time frame from instant report and defendant’s proximity to crime scene, along with defendant’s general match to physical description of culprit. Fact that defendant wore additional items and was riding bike instead of proceeding on foot at time of his encounter with officer did not require different result.