DECISION ORDER
ORDERED that the judgment is reversed, on the law, and a new trial is ordered.
The trial court erred in permitting the arresting detective to testify that he had interviewed and obtained the statements of two men, who were not called as witnesses at the trial, that he "was armed with some information", obtained a photograph of the defendant, and subsequently arrested the defendant. Such testimony implied that these men identified the defendant as the perpetrator of the subject crimes (see, People v. Brazzeal, 172 A.D.2d 757, 761-762 ; People v. Cummings, 109 A.D.2d 748, 749-750 ; People v. Cruz, 100 A.D.2d 882 ). Under the circumstances herein, the error was not harmless.
In light of our determination, we need not reach the defendant's remaining contentions.