People v. O'Connor

The conviction was for the crime of resisting an officer while “ in the performance of his duty,” under section 1825 of the Penal Law. The arrest of the prisoner was for the commission of a misdemeanor. This crime had not been committed in the presence of the arresting officer; nor did the officer hold a warrant for the arrest. Therefore, the arrest was illegally made; the officer had no right to search the prisoner; the prisoner did not resist an officer in the performance of any duty; and no crime was committed.

The judgments should be reversed and the information dismissed.

Cardozo, Ch. J.,…