Raheem Carmichael "tensed up" and ran as officers were approaching him. And when they gave chase, they supposedly saw him toss a gun and some bullets to the ground.
After he was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, Carmichael argued that officers didn't have the right to pursue him and, interestingly, the Appellate Division, Second Department, agreed.
Since cops may only pursue a suspect when some form of criminal activity is underway, and it didn't think Carmichael's "tensing up" and "running" met the governing legal standard, the AD2 was of the view the police had acted unlawfully and opted to throw the criminal case out.
Did they race through that?
To read a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: People vs. Carmichael