IN RE: IYONA G. (2009)

This Court granted respondent permission to appeal from a fact-finding order (see Family Ct. Act § 1112[a] ), which found that she committed an act that, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of resisting arrest (Penal Law § 205.30).   We agree with respondent that the petition is facially insufficient and thus that reversal is required.   Pursuant to Penal Law § 205.30, “[a] person is guilty of resisting arrest when he [or she] intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a police officer or peace officer from effecting an authorized arrest of himself[, herself] or another person.”  “It is an essential element of the crime of resisting arrest that the arrest be authorized” (People v. Alejandro, 70 N.Y.2d 133, 135, 517 N.Y.S.2d 927, 511 N.E.2d 71).   The petition and supporting depositions filed with the petition allege that respondent resisted arrest while being placed under arrest for “fighting,” i.e., disorderly conduct (§ 240.20[1] ).   Disorderly conduct is a violation, and “[a] warrantless arrest of a juvenile is authorized only in cases where an adult could be arrested ‘for a crime’ ” (Matter of Victor M., 9 N.Y.3d 84, 87, 845 N.Y.S.2d 771, 876 N.E.2d 1187, quoting Family Ct. Act § 305.2[2] ).   A crime is defined in Penal Law § 10.00(6) as a misdemeanor or a felony, not a violation (see Anonymous v. City of Rochester, 56 A.D.3d 139, 144, 865 N.Y.S.2d 804).   Because there is no evidence in the petition or supporting depositions that the police officers who attempted to arrest the 12-year-old respondent believed or had reason to believe that she was at least 16 years old, the petition and supporting depositions fail to allege that the arrest was “ authorized” (Victor M., 9 N.Y.3d at 87, 845 N.Y.S.2d 771, 876 N.E.2d 1187;  cf. Matter of Carlton F., 25 A.D.3d 610, 611-612, 807 N.Y.S.2d 645).   Thus, the petition and supporting depositions fail to allege that respondent committed an act that would constitute the crime of resisting arrest if committed by an adult (see People v. Peacock, 68 N.Y.2d 675, 677, 505 N.Y.S.2d 594, 496 N.E.2d 683;  People v. Perez, 47 A.D.3d 1192, 1193, 851 N.Y.S.2d 747).

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs and the petition is dismissed.

MEMORANDUM: